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THE INTERPRETATION OF THE MUSIC
OF THE
XVIIth AND XVIIIth CENTURIES

imultaneously with the publication of this Volume
is issued
AN APPENDIX
consisting of
:WENTY-TW0 ILLUSTRATIVE PIECES
Price Threk Shillings and Sixpence. -

HANDBOOKS FOR MUSICIANS.
Edited by Ernest Newman.
THE INTERPRETATION
OF THE MUSIC
OF THE
XVIIth AND XVIIIth CENTURIES
REVEALED BY CONTEMPORARY EVIDENCE.
ARNOLD DOLMETSCH.
London: NOVELLO AND COMPANY, Limited.

New York: THE H. W. GRAY CO., Sole Agents for the U.S.A.
£ .V.
INTRODUCTION.
When our musical notation began, in the early part

of the nth century, the pitch of the notes was
indicated by square dots upon a stave. There
were no signs to denote the different lengths of
sounds. The rhythm of the song had to be
taught orally, as well as its tempo, phrasing, and
ornamentation. Gradually, special shapes were
given to the notes, to indicate their relative
duration. Time-signatures, ligatures, signs for
the various ornaments, and all the other necessary
devices came gradually to complete the system.
For nine hundred years notation has progressed,
and still it is far from perfect. We are not often
conscious of this with regard to modern music,
for most of what we wish to play is already
known to us from previous hearing and when
;
it is not, the style of the music is familiar

enough to enable us to interpret the written text
correctly without having to think much about it.
But future generations will find difficulties and
doubtful interpretations where all seems clear to us.
A hundred years ago people wrote their music still
less accurately than we do now, so that if we want
vi INTRODUCTION
to play in the original style a composition of
Beethoven, for example, we find the text incomplete
and imitative interpretation perplexing, for the
leading players of our time do not agree in their
readings.
There might indeed be an unquestionable
tradition for a period comparatively so recent,
since people are now living who could have learned
to play Beethoven's music from someone who had
heard the composer himself play it. Time,
however, has already obscured these memories.
Ifwe go back half-a-century further, the
difficulties become greater. We come to the time
.
when what is now called " Old Music " was merely
old-fashioned. From that time to the revival
which is now in progress, the attention of musicians
was so completely withdrawn from this " Old
Music " that no tradition of it survived. The
tradition now claimed by some players only goes
back to the early pioneers of the present revival,
who knew much less about it than we do now.
Reliable information is to be found only in those
books of instruction which the old musicians wrote
about their own art. Happily there are many
such, well filled with precepts, examples, and
philosophical considerations.
In order to get a comprehensive view of the
subject, we must analyse and compare all available
documents. No single author gives full light on
every point, even concerning his own works. The
thing we most want to know is frequently exactly
what has been left out or passed over lightly. The
author, perhaps, considered it too simple or too
well known to require any explanation. In such
cases we must look elsewhere for the desired
INTRODUCTION vii
knowledge and if no single document gives it, we

;
must attempt to deduce it from a combination of

sources. There is no lack of material for our
studies, and it is well it should be so, for we have
much to learn. Until far into the 18th century-
several important problems were left to the player.
Thus, before we can play properly a piece of old
music we must find out :
Firstly, the Tempo, which frequently is not

indicated in any way ;
Secondly, the real Rhythm, which very often

differs in practice from the written text
Thirdly, the Ornaments and Graces necessary

for the adornment of the music ; and
Fourthly, how to up the Figured Basses
fill
in accompaniments.
These various problems will be considered here,
in turn. But the student should first try and
prepare his mind by thoroughly understanding
what the Old Masters felt about their own music,
what impressions they wished to convey, and,
generally, what was the Spirit of their Art, for
on these points the ideas of modern musicians are
by no means clear.
A number of quotations from old books whose
authority is not open to question are gathered
together in the first chapter. They are most
interesting and helpful, and will show how erroneous
is the idea, still entertained by some, that expression
is a modern thing, and that the old music requires
nothing beyond mechanical precision.
;
viii INTRODUCTION
It is advisable, however, before beginning this
study, to clear our mind of prejudice and precon-
ceived ideas, and put aside intolerant modernity
or else we may, as others have done, corrupt and
twist about the meaning of even the clearest
statement. We should take warning from the
1 8th century connoisseurs, who declared Gothic
architecture barbarous, or the early 19th century
art critics, who could see no beauty in
pre-Raphaelite art.
IX
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
TAGE
Introduction v
CHAPTER I.
Expression z
CHAPTER II.
Tempo ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 27
Section 1 28
,, II. —The Tempo of Dance Movements 44
CHAPTER III.
Conventional Alterations of Rhythm :
Section I. ... ... ... ... ... ... 53

II 65
CHAPTER IV.
Ornamentation 88
Section I. — The Appoggiatura ... ... ... 93
—The Shake or
II. Trill 154
III.—The Tremolo, Close Shake ... ... 196
IV. — Mordent, Beat. Open Shake,
Sweetening 209
V. — The Turn, Single Relish ... ... 224
VI. —The Elevation,
Slide, Double
Backfall,Wholefall, Bearing Slur, 238
VII. — The Springer Spinger). Accent.
(or
Acute. Sigh ... ... ... 251
VIII. — The"Anschlag" or Doppelsvorschlag 256
IX. — The Arpeggio. Battery. Broken
Chord ... ... ... ... 260
X. — Expressive Rests ... ... ... 275
XI. — Tempo Rubato ... ... ... 284
XII. — Acciaccatura, Pince Etouffe Zusam-
menschlag, Tatto ... ... 288
XIII. — Compound Ornaments ... ... 302
XIV. — Divisions ... ... ... ... 323
x 17th AND i8th CENTURY MUSIC
CHAPTER V.
PAGE
Figured Basses 342
CHAPTER VI.
Position and Fingering... 364
CHAPTER VII.
The Musical Instruments of the Period
Section I. — The Virginals 419
II. — The Clavichord 433
III.— The Organ ... 436
IV.— The Lute 437
V.—The Viols 444
—
VI. The Viola d'amore 452
VII.— The Violins ... 453
—
VIII. The Wood-Wind Instruments 456
—
IX. The Brass Instruments 460
X. — Combinations of Instruments 462
CHAPTER I.
EXPRESSION.
A book which from its title could hardly be
suspected of containing matter of interest for our
'
subject, but does nevertheless contain most valuable

information, is " L'Art du Facteur d'Orgues," by
Dom Bedos de Celles, a Benedictine monk, who
published it in 1766.
An important part of this book treats of " La
Tonotechnie," which is the art of pricking music
upon the cylinder of self-playing instruments.
This art was brought to a very high degree of
perfection in the 18th century. Its aim was to
reproduce with absolute precision the execution of
the music as intended by its composer. It thus
gives us indications of almost mathematical
accuracy on tempo, rhythm, and ornaments. The
following phrase, taken from this book at page 596,
could well serve as motto to the present work :
" There is a manner of conceiving Music entirely

different from the one taught in all the Treatises
upon this Art; it is founded upon the execution
itself."
— —;
2 17TH AND i8th CENTURY MUSIC

In a footnote on the same page, speaking of
previous writers on his subject, the author says
:
" They have not said a word about the ornaments,

nor of the combination of silences, held and touched
notes to form the articulations of the music, &c.
of the distinction between first and second quavers,
and of the crotchets, &c. of their inequality, &c.
;
;
all these observations are, however, essential, and

form the essence of beautiful execution as practised
by the most famous organists, and as I have had
the occasion to remark in several pieces which
Mr. Balbastre, a very skilful organist, has been so
kind as to play for me. .
." .
The imperfections of musical notation could not

be pointed out more clearly. The explanations
with which musicians have endeavoured from
time to time to palliate these imperfections are
precious documents for us now ; they are the
foundation of the present work.
Giulio Caccini, in the Introduction to "Le Nuove
Musiche" (Florence, i6oi,with an enlarged second
edition in 1607), gives valuable directions upon
various points of interpretation from which we
shall gather together here some extracts concerning
the expression and spirit of the music. Weshall
quote from an English translation and adaptation
given, without acknowledging its source, in
Playford's "Introduction to the Skill of Music"
(London, 1st edition, 1655). Playford introduces
the subject, which fills some thirty pages of the
book, in the following quaint manner :
" Courteous Reader,

" This Manuscript fortunately came to my
hand, which having diligently perused, and
perceiving the Author's intent to have published
EXPRESSION 3
it, I thought it would be useful to add some part

thereof to this my
Discourse of the Theorie of
Musick but being cautious of publishing anything
;
of this kind on my own weak judgment, I communi-

cated my intended purpose to some of the most
Eminent Masters of this Kingdome, who (after
their perusal) gave a good approbation thereof
so that if thou dost reap any benefit thereby, thou
art beholden to them, and not to me, any more
than for Publishing the same.
" The Proem to the said Discourse is to this
effect.
" Hitherto I have not put forth to the view
of the world those fruits of my Musick Studies
employed about that noble manner of Singing
which I learnt of my Master the famous Scipione
del Palla in Italy ; . . .
" I have endeavoured in those my late

Compositions to bring in a kind of Musick by
which men might as it were Talk in Harmony,
using in that kind of singing a certain noble neglect
of the song, as I have often heard at Florence
by the Actors in their Singing Opperas, in which
I endevoured the Imitation of the Conceit of the
Words. ... In Encreasing and Abating the
Voyce, and in Exclamations is the foundation of
Passion. . .Art admitteth no Mediocrity,
.
and how much the more curiosities are in it, by

reason of the excellence thereof, with so much the
more labour and love ought we, the Proffessors
thereof, to find them out. There are some
. . .
that in the Tuning of the first Note, Tune it a Third

under Others Tune the said first Note in his proper
:
Tune, always increasing it in Lowdness, saying that

this is the good way of putting forth the Voyce
gracefully. ... I have found it a more affectuous
way to Tunc the Voyce by a contrary effect to the
other, that is, to Tune the first Note, Diminishing
it Because Exclamation is the principal means to
:
move the Affections ; and Exclamation properly is

no other thing, but in the slacking of the Voyce to
reinforce it somewhat . . .
" Exclamations may

be used in all Passionate
Musicks Yet by consequence understand ye,
. . .
that in Airy Musicks or Corants to dance instead of

these Passions, there is to be used only a lively,
cheerful kind of Singing, which is carried and ruled
by the Air itself. . . .
" Whereupon we see how necessary a certain

judgment is for a Musician, which sometimes useth
to prevail above Art. ... I call that the noble
manner of singing, which is used without tying a

mans self to the ordinary measure of time, making
many times the value of the notes less by half, and
sometimes more, according to the conceit of the
words whence proceeds that excellent kinde of
;
singing with a graceful neglect, whereof I have

spoken before."
A very important document is the Preface to the
first volume of Toccatas of Girolamo Frescobaldi,
published at Rome in 1614. It is reproduced here
in extenso :
—
To the Reader. "
Knowing by experience how well appreciated is

"
that manner of playing with expressive passages
and varied divisions, I have thought it right to
show my aptitude and my zeal to succeed in it by
publishing these small results of my labour, with
the explanations hereunder but : I declare that I
EXPRESSION 5
bow before the merits of others, and that I respect

the value of every one. And now, let the devoted
care with which I have presented these principles
to the amiable and studious reader be accepted.
« !°- Firstly, that kind of style must not be subject
to time. We see the same thing done in modern
madrigals, which, notwithstanding their difficulties,
are rendered easier to sing, thanks to the variations
of the time, which is beaten now slowly, now
quickly, and even held in the air, according to the
expression of the music, or the sense of the words.
" 2 0, In the Toccate, I have endeavoured not only
to give a profusion of divisions and expressive
passages, but, moreover, to arrange the various
sections so that they may be played separately
from one another, in such a way that the player,
without being obliged to play them all, can stop
wherever he pleases.
" 3°- The beginnings of the Toccate should be
played adagio and arpeggiando ; the same applies
to the syncopations and discords even in the middle
of the pieces. The chords should be broken with
both hands so that the instrument may not be left
empty this battery can be repeated at pleasure.
;
4 On the last note of the shakes, or passages

" '
by skips or degrees, you must pause, even if this

note is a quaver or semiquaver, or unlike the
following note, for such a stop avoids confusion
between one phrase and another.
" 5°- The cadences, though written rapid, should
be played very sustained and as you get nearer
;
the end of the passage or cadence, you should

retard the time more and more. The separations
and conclusions of the passages are indicated by
concords for both hands, written in minims.
6 i
7 th AND i8th CENTURY MUSIC
" 6°- When
you find a shake for the right hand,
or the left, and that at the same time the other
hand plays a passage, you must not divide the
shake exactly note for note, but only try to have it
rapid, and let the passage flow less quickly and
with expression, otherwise there will be confusion.
" 7°- When you find any passage of quavers and
semiquavers to be played together for both hands,
you must not play it too fast and the hand which ;
has semiquavers should make them somewhat

dotted dotting not the first but the second, and so
;
on for the others, one without dot, the other dotted.

" 8°- Before playing double passages in. semi-
quavers with both hands, you must pause on the
preceding note, even if it be a short one then ;
resolutely play the passage, which will better show

off the agility of your hand.
" g°- In the Partite, when you find rapid divisions
and expressive passages, it will be advisable to play
slowly the same observation applies to the Toccate.
;
Those without divisions may be played a little

more quickly, and it is left to the good taste and
fine judgment of the player to regulate the Tempo,
in which consist the spirit and perfection of this
style and manner of playing. The various sections
of the Passacailles may be played separately at
pleasure, if you take care to fit the various
movements to one another ; the same applies to
the Chacones."
There are many points worthy of notice in this
Preface, and a few comments upon some of them
may prove useful.
According to par. i, it is clear that madrigals,
about 1600, were sung very freely as regards
Tempo : now slowly, now quickly, the beat
EXPRESSION 7
even stopping awhile if the sense of the phrase
required it. This is not in accordance with modern
methods, but as the point is not open to doubt,
modern conductors might try to apply this principle,
and let us hear some madrigals of that time as
they were intended to sound. It should prove
quite a revelation. We are also told that the
same principle applies to instrumental music.
This ought not to be difficult to realise, for modern
music is played in no other way. As soon as it is
recognised that not only is it not " wrong " to give
the old music its natural expression, but, on the
contrary, that the so-called traditional way of
playing it is an insult to its beauty, the players will
not be afraid to follow their own instinct, and the
music will come to life again.
In par. 2 we learn that one is not obliged to
"
play the whole of a long piece, and that " cuts
were not only tolerated, but actually prepared for.
It is useful to know this, for many a player who
hesitates to give a long piece may be pleased to
play some parts of it, when supported by good
authority.
The
breaking of the chords mentioned in par. 3
will be considered later in its proper place.
Pars. 4 and 5 are very clear they merely enforce
;
the necessity of good phrasing and thoughtful

expression.
Par. 6 will be exemplified with the other
ornaments. We
may remark here, however, that
as Frescobaldi apparently wrote his shakes in full,
it is difficult for a modern musician, trained to play
what is before his eyes, to realise that the author

did not intend his text to be followed. But thus it
is, and similar cases are frequent in the old notation.
Par. 7 will be discussed in the third chapter,
with the other conventional alterations of rhythm.
Par. 8 requires no elucidation it recommends a
;
device which is frequently resorted to in modern

music.
Par. g. The Partite of Frescobaldi are sets of
variations upon a theme. As many as twelve or
more upon a fairly long subject are found. They
differ in character some should be played
;
slowly, others fast. Their tempo is left to the

good taste and fine judgment of the player which —
qualities, if to some extent inborn, need never-
theless to be perfected by study.
As to his remarks upon the selection of some of
the sections of the Passacailles or Partite these are
still more to the point, perhaps, than his similar
advice about the Toccate, for some of them are
very long. One Passacaille in his second book
contains one hundred Partite. It would require a
good deal of enthusiasm to listen to them all. I
have, perhaps, insisted too much upon this Prefacej
sufficiently clear in itself. Its great importance
should be my excuse, an importance recognised by
Edward Dannreuther, who gave a version of it in
his work on Ornamentation, with the Italian text
side by side. Unfortunately, his text and translation
are obscured by misreadings, excusable enough,
perhaps, for the original text is written jn an
obsolete and confusing lettering, and in an idiom
far from easy to understand at times. I have been
so fortunate as to be helped in the present
translation by an eminent specialist in old Italian,'
M. Paul Marie Masson, the worthy President of
the French Institute at Florence, whose authority
has been very valuable to me. Let him accept my
EXPRESSION 9
heartfelt thanks. It is not my intention in this
book either to contradict or approve of received
opinions but I feel I must warn the reader that
;
the works on this subject written within the last

fifty years need constant verification and comparison
with the originals from which their statements
purport to be drawn. In many cases their reliance
on second-hand quotations has led to statements
founded only on gratuitous suppositions.
Thomas Mace, one of the clerks of Trinity
College in the University of Cambridge, published
in 1676 a book entitled: "Musick's Monument; or
a Remembrancer of the Best Practical Musick,
both Divine and Civil, that has ever been known to
have been in the World." It is divided into three
Parts : the First is devoted to Church singing, the
Second " Treats of the Noble Lute (the Best of
Instruments) now made Easie and all Its Occult-
;
Lock'd-up-Secrets Plainly laid Open . .

." ;in
the Third Part, " The Generous Viol, in Its Rightest
Use, is Treated Upon ; with some Curious Obser-
vations, never before Handled, concerning It, and
Musick in General."
The book is written in a quaint style, often much
involved, full of parentheses, and parentheses inside
parentheses. Its appearance is strange, for every
third word or so is printed in italics, and half the
words begin with a capital. But its 272 pages are
filled with interesting and valuable information,
much of which could not be found elsewhere.
The author's engraved portrait gives his age
as sixty-three when the book was published
he was therefore born about 1613. The date
;;;;;;: of his death is not known. We shall have to
t {(tic return to this book several times; indeed the
— — ,
io 17TH AND i8th CENTURY MUSIC

whole work could be studied with much pleasure
and profit.
For the present the following extracts must suffice.
In chap, xi., which is devoted to Time, we find
this :
" . . you must Know, That, although in our

First Undertakings, we ought to strive, for the
most Exact Habit of Time-keeping that possibly we
can attain unto, (and for severall good Reasons)
yet, when we come to be Masters, so that we
can command all manner of Time, at our own
Pleasures we Then take Liberty, (and very often,
;
for Humour, and good Adornment-sake, in certain

Places) to sometimes Faster, and
Break Time ;
sometimes Slower, as we perceive the Nature of the

Thing Requires, which often adds, much Grace,
and Luster, to the Performance."
In chap, xxiii., which is devoted to the
Explanation of Graces, we find this (page 109) :
" The next is to play some part of the Lesson

Loud, and some part Soft; which gives much
more Grace, and Lustre to Play, than any other
Grace, whatsoever Therefore I commend
: It, as
a Principal and Chief-Ornamental-Grace (in its
Proper Place).
" The
last of all, is the Pause; which although
itbe not a Grace, of any performance, nor likewise
numbered amongst the Graces, by others, yet the
performance of It, (in proper Places) adds much
Grace and the thing to be done, is but only to
:
make a kind of Cessation, or standing still, sometimes

Longer, and sometimes Shorter, according to the
Nature or Requiring of the Humour of the Musick;
which if in Its due Place be made, is a very Excellent
Grace."
EXPRESSION ii
The conclusion of all this is

i°- That Tempo Rubato and alterations in the
time of a piece for the sake of expression were in
common use in England in the 17th century.
2°" That although no indications of
p and / were
given in the music, such were expected to be made.
The performer had to find the proper places for
them.
3°" That the several phrases of a composition
had to be punctuated divided from one another

:
so as to make the sense clear, although the music

showed no indication of it. But modern music is
in no way different from the old on that point, and
Mace same thing as Frescobaldi.
says the
At page 118, after some direction for the
Invention of Preludes and the composition of
" Lessons," Mace gives the following " Digression,"
which vividly pictures the effect of music as felt
by him :
" But thus much I do affirm, and shall be

ready to Prove, by Demonstration, (to any Person
Intelligible) That Musick is as a Language, and
has Its Significations, as Words have, (if not more
strongly) only most people do not understand that
Language, (perfectly).
" And as an Orator (when he goes about to
make a Speech, Sermon, or Oration) takes to
Himself some Subject Matter, to Exercise himself
upon, as a Theam, Text, or the Like and in that ;
Exercise, can order His Discourse, or Form, various

and sundry ways, at his Pleasure, and yet not stray
from, or loose His intended Matter. Even so
may a Learned Master, in This Art, do the like
and with as much Ease, Scope, and Freedom
(significantly)
!

"And as in Language, various Humours, Conceits,
and Passions (of all sorts) may be exprest; so
likewise in Musick, may any Humour, Conceit, or
Passion (never so various) be exprest and so
;
significantly, as any Rhetorical Words or

Expressions are able to do only (if I may not
;
be thought too Extravagant in my Expressions) if

any Difference be It is, In that Musick speaks so
;
transcendently, and Communicates Its Notions

so Intelligibly to the Internal, Intellectual, and
Incomprehensible Faculties of the Soul so far
;
beyond all Language of Words, that I confess, and

most solemnly affirm, I have been more Sensibly,
Fervently, and Zealously Captivated, and drawn
into Divine Raptures, and Contemplations, by
Those Unexpressible, Rhetorical, Uncontrolable
Persuasions, and Instructions of Musick's Divine
Language, than ever yet I have been, by the best
Verbal Rhetorick, that came from any Man's
Mouth, either in Pulpit or elsewhere.
" Those Influences, which come along with It,
may aptly be compar'd, to Emanations, Communi-
cations, or Distillations, of some Sweet, and
Heavenly Genius, or Spirit Mystically,
; and
Unapprehensibly (yet Effectually) Disposessing
the Soul, and Mind, of All Irregular, Disturbing,
and Unquiet Motions and Stills, and Fills It,
;
with Quietness, Joy, and Peace; Absolute

Tranquility, and Unexpressible Satisfaction."
Even allowing that our author is occasionally
rather " Extravagant in his Expressions," as he
himself puts it, it is evident that music had some
meaning for him, and that he did not consider
"Sound-patterns" and experiments in Counter-
point as the goal of the Art
EXPRESSION i3
Here follow some practical directions as to

style :
Page 130: And as to the General Humour of

:
'
any Lesson, take This as a Constant Observation :
viz., observe It, in its Form, or Shape and if you ;
find it Uniform, and Retortive, either in its Barrs,

or Strains, and that It expresseth Short Sentences,
. . Then you will find it very Easie, to
. .
Humour a Lesson, by Playing some Sentences

Loud, and others again Soft, according as they
best please your own Fancy, some very Briskly,
and Couragiously, and some again Gently,
Lovingly, Tenderly, and Smoothly. And forget
not especially, in such Humours, to make your
Pauses, at Proper Places, which are commonly at
the End of such Sentences, where there is a Long
Note, as easily you will know how to do, if you
give your mind to regard such Things, which give
the Greatest Lustre in" Play, as I have already
told you."
At page 132, after some directions similar to
those quoted above, he says :
" Such Observations, as These, will prove several

ways Beneficial unto you both as to your Delight,
;
in your undertaking and also, a Help to Increase

;
your Knowledge, and Judgment; far beyond that

Common way of Poaring, and Drudging at the
Practice of Lessons, only to Play them Readily,
and Quick, which seldom, or never Produceth
Judgment, but leaves This Knowledge ever behind
it which is much more than the one Half of the
;
Work."
Isnot this strikingly true, as well as regards
modern as old music, and ought not every teacher
to steep himself in it and impart it to his pupils ?
— ;
i4 17TH AND i8th CENTURY MUSIC

What a relief it would be to the world if some of
the stupid, mechanical practice of the present time
could be done away with !
At page 133, after another Lesson, he says :
" Its Humour is Toyish, Joccond, Harmless, and

Pleasant and, as if it were, one Playing with, or
;
Tossing a Ball, up and down yet it seems to have ;
a very Solemn Countenance, and like unto one of

a Sober, and Innocent Condition, or Disposition
not Antick, Apish, or Wild, &c. As to the
Performance of It, you will do well to Remember,
(as in all the rest, so in This) to Play Loud
and Soft sometimes Briskly, and sometimes
;
Gently and Smoothly, here and there, as your

Fancy will (no doubt) Prompt you unto, if you
make a Right Observation of what I have already
told you."
A
running commentary in this style follows every
piece in the book. The same thing is repeated
over and over again. But he was a good teacher,
and knew how pupils should be treated. One
more quotation, from page 147, and we must leave
Mace :—
" Many
Drudge, and take much Pains to Play
their Lessons very Perfectly as they call it (that
is, Fast) which, when they can do, you will perceive
Little Life, or Spirit in Them, merely for want of

the knowledge of this last Thing, I now mention,
viz. They do not labour to find out the Humour,
:
Life, or Spirit of their Lessons Therefore I am :
more Earnest about It, than many (It may be)

think needful But experience will confirm what
:
I say."
French books on Music are very rich in material
for our study.
EXPRESSION 15
JeanRousseau, " Maitre de Musique et de

Viole," published at Paris in 1687 a " Traite de la
Viole," from which the following extracts are taken.
Speaking of Hottman, one of the foremost viola da
gamba players of the 17th century, he says
(page 23) " One admired him often more when he
:
played tenderly some simple little song than in

the most learned and complicated pieces. The
tenderness of his playing came from these beautiful
bowings which he animated, and softened so
cleverly and properly that he charmed all those
who heard him."
Page 56 " The playing of Melodious Pieces
:
should be simple, and in consequence requires

much delicacy and tenderness, and it is in that
playing that one should most particularly
imitate all the agreeable and charming effects the
Voice can produce. It is specially proper to the
Treble Viol."
Page 57 " The playing of Melodious Pieces is
:
very agreeable, and even most touching, when it is

well done."
Page 60 " But Genius and fine taste are
:
natural gifts, which cannot be learned by Rules,

and it is with their help that the Rules should be
applied, and that one takes liberties so a propos as
always to please, for to please is to have genius and
fine taste."
Speaking of playing accompaniments upon the
he says
viol, :
Page 66: "This kind of playing also requires

much cleverness and application, because you must
know instantly how to take the various movements,
and what passions to express, and that is what
is commonly called entering into the spirit of
—

the piece. movement there are
At this word '
'
people who imagine that to give the movement is

to follow and keep time; but there is much
between the one and the other, for one
difference
may keep time without entering into the movement,
because Time depends upon the Music, but the
Movement depends upon genius and fine
taste. . . .
" He who
accompanies must have no affectation
in playing, for nothing is more opposed to the
spirit ofaccompaniment or concerted playing than
to hear a person who is only anxious to show off;
this manner is only good when one plays
alone. . . .
" The spirit and science of accompaniment goes

still further, if one is obliged to accompany a Voice
who cannot sing in Time ; for then, if one only
follows the ordinary Value of Notes it is only
rarely and by chance that the chords will fit
the tune. ." . .
Page 72, speaking of the Treble Viol :
" The playing of Melodious Pieces is its proper

character that is why those who wish to play well
;
on this instrument must attach themselves to

delicate singing, to imitate all that a beautiful
Voice can make. .
" You must employall the Graces, to their full

extent, especially the shake with appoggiatura and
the plain appoggiatura, which are the foundation
of singing; and one must omit nothing, in one's
playing, of what can give pleasure to the ear by
tender and well-filled ornaments.
" You must, however, avoid a profusion of
divisions, which only disturb the tune, and obscure
its beauty neither must you ever play these runs
;
EXPRESSION 17
up and down the instrument with rebounding bow

which are called Ricochets,' and which are hardly
'
bearable on the Violin; but all the Graces and

Divisions must be natural and appropriate and
practised with discretion. . . .
" And you must take care, in lively movements,

not to mark the beat too much, so as not to depart
from the Spirit of the Instrument, which will not
be treated in the manner of the Violin, of which
the purpose is to animate, whilst that of the Treble
Viol is to flatter."
Another French master from whom there is
much to be learned is Francois Couperin, " The
Great," who published in 1717 a book entitled
" L'Art de toucher le Clavecin," dedicated to
the King.
It is a deep-minded work, full of subtle remarks
useful to teacher and pupil alike. It is, unfortu-
nately, a very rare book; as, indeed, are most of
those I have quoted. Here is the Preface :
" The method I give here is unique, and has

nothing to do with Musical Theory, which is only
a science of numbers but in it I treat above all
;
things (by demonstrated principles) of Fine

Harpsichord playing. I even believe I give in
it clear enough notions of the taste suitable to that
instrument to be approved of by the accomplished

player and to help those who hope to become such.
As there is a great difference between Grammar
and Declamation, so there is one infinitely greater
between Musical Theory and the art of fine playing.
I need not fear, therefore, that enlightened people
will misunderstand me I must only exhort the

;
others to be docile, and to get rid of such prejudices

as they may have. I must at least assure them
that these principles are absolutely necessary to
succeed in playing my pieces well."
Page 6 " One should only use at first a spinet,
:
or one single keyboard of a Harpsichord for young

pupils ;
and either the one or the other should be
quilled very weakly. This point is of infinite
consequence, a fine execution depending much
more upon Suppleness, and great freedom of
fingers, than on strength ; so that if in the
beginnings a child is allowed to play upon two
keyboards (coupled), he must of necessity force his
little hands to make the notes sound; and from
this come ill-placed hands and hardness of touch.
" Softness of Touch depends also upon keeping
one's fingers as near as possible to the keys. It is
reasonable to believe (experience apart) that if a
finger falls on the key from high, it gives a drier
blow than if it had been kept near it, and that the
quill draws a harsher tone from the string.
" It is better during the first lessons one gives to
children not to advise them to practise in the
absence of their teacher. Young people are too
thoughtless to bind themselves to hold their hands
in the position one has prescribed for them. As to
myself, in beginning with children, I take away, as
a precaution, the key of the instrument upon which
I teach them, so that they may not spoil in an
instant what I have been most carefully teaching
for three-quarters of an hour."
Couperin's remark upon the necessity of beginning
upon a very light instrument is most true. Many
pianoforte players have a hard, unsympathetic
touch, and are unable to play lightly and rapidly
merely on account of having practised at first upon
a heavy keyboard. And what Couperin says as to
EXPRESSION 19
keeping the fingers close to the keys is as true

about the pianoforte of to-day as it was then about
the harpsichord.
Page 10 " The manner of fingering is a great
:
help to good playing; but as it would take an

entire volume of remarks and varied examples to
demonstrate what I think, and what I teach to my
pupils, I shall only give here a general notion of it.
It is proved that a certain melody, a certain
•
passage, being fingered in a certain way, produces

quite a distinct effect upon the ear of a person of
taste."
The system of fingering used by Couperin was
very nearly the same as that of Bach and other
players of that period. We shall discuss it later,
for it is a most important point. In modern
editions of Bach and other old masters, the fingering
given is frequently arranged so as to render
proper phrasing very difficult, if not impossible.
It is based upon a system which, however efficient
for the rendering of modern music, is not adapted
to compositions based upon a technique wholly
different from that of the present time. This bad
fingering is often responsible for the dryness and
general ineffectiveness of modern performances of
old music.
To return to Couperin's book, we find at page 12
the following excellent precept :
" One should not begin to teach children to read

music until they are able to play a certain number
of pieces. It is almost impossible that, whilst
looking at their book, their fingers should not get
disarranged, and twisted about that the very
;
Graces be not altered. Besides, memory develops

much better if one is used to play by heart."
—
2o i 7 th AND i8th CENTURY MUSIC

At the bottom of page 13 he further explains :—
" I hope no one has doubted so far, that I have
supposed that the children had been taught, first of
all, the names of the notes on the keyboard."
At page 38 there is a most important passage to
which we shall have occasion to return later.
When he speaks of " les etrangers " and "les
Italiens" his opinion is not worth much, for he
knew little about them. But about his own music
and the French music of his time one must listen
to him :
"... I thought it would not be useless to
say a word about French movements, and how

they differ from the Italian.
" There are, according to me, in our way of
writing music, faults similar to the manner of
writing our language. We
write differently from
what we play, which is the cause that foreigners
play our music less well than we play theirs. On
the contrary, the Italians write their music as they
imagined it. For example, we play as dotted several
quavers following one another by degrees and yet
;
we write them even. We

are bound by use, and
we continue. Let us examine whence comes this
discrepancy. I find that we confuse Time, or
Measure, with what is called Cadence or Movement.
Measure defines the quantity and equality of beats ;
Cadence is properly the spirit, the soul that must

be added to it.
" The Sonatas of the Italians are hardly adapted
to this Cadence. But all our Airs for Violins,
our Pieces for Harpsichord, Viols, &c, point to, and
seem to want to express, some sentiment. So that,
not having imagined any signs, or characters to
communicate our particular ideas, we try to
EXPRESSION 21
palliate this defect by indicating at the beginning

of our pieces, with such words as Tendrement,
Vivement, &c, the idea we desire to convey. I wish
someone would take the trouble to translate this
for the use of foreigners, and thus give them the
means to judge of the excellency of our Instrumental
Music . .."
Page 45 " : . You must above all be

. .
very particular as to Keyboards, and have your

instrument always quilled with care. I understand,
however, that there are people to whom this may
be indifferent, for they play equally badly upon
any instrument whatever."
Here are the concluding " Observations " in the
book. No doubt they will prove interesting. They
occur in the middle of a collection of eight Preludes.
There is one in each of the eight keys used by
Couperin, so that the performer may always find
one to play before any piece, as the author says,—
"to untie his fingers, or test the touch of an
unfamiliar instrument."
Page 60 " : . Although these Preludes
. .
are written in measured time, there is however

a customary style which should be followed.
A Prelude is a free composition, in which
the imagination follows all that comes to it.
But as it is rare to find geniuses capable of
production on the spur of the moment, those
who will use these set Preludes must play them
in an easy manner, without binding themselves
to strict time, unless I should have expressly
marked it by the word mesure.' Thus one
'
may make bold to say that in many things music,

by comparison with poetry, has its prose and its
verse.
;

" of the reasons why I have measured these
One
Preludes is the facility one will find to teach them
or to learn them." (He is quite right in this, for

the unmeasured preludes of D'Anglebert and
others are very troublesome to learn.)
" To conclude, on harpsichord playing in general,
my feeling is not to depart from the style which
suits it. Passages, broken chords well under the
hand, things in Lute style and syncopations should
be preferred to long-sustained or very low notes.
You must bind perfectly all you play. All the
graces must be precise the shakes should be even
;
and get quicker by imperceptible gradations.

" Take great care not to alter the time of set
pieces, and not to hold notes longer than their
proper value. Finally, form your playing on the
good taste of to-day, which is without comparison
purer than formerly."
This last remark is amusing, in view of the fact
that at all times people have been convinced of the
superiority of their own taste over that of their
predecessors.
Now we shall study a most valuable German
book entitled " Johann Joachim Quantzens,
:
Konigl. Preussischen Kammermusikus, Versuch

einer Anweisung die Flote traversiere zu Spielen
mit verschiedenen, zur Veforderung des guten
Geschmackes in der praktischen music dienlichen
Anmerkungen begleitet, und mit Exempeln •
erlautert. Nebst xxiv. Kupfertafeln. Berlin.

Johann Friedrich Voss. 1752."
This book was also published, at the same time
and place, in French, under the title of " Essai :
d'une Methode pour apprendre a jouer de la Flute

Traversiere, avec plusieurs remarques pour servir ,
EXPRESSION 23
au bon gout dans la musique. . . . par Jean

Joachim Quantz."
The French of translation is poor and
this
incorrect. Still it is enough when the reader has
clear
become accustomed to its peculiarities. Both the
German and the French versions are in my library,
as well as most of the other works quoted in these
pages. And indeed if I had not been the owner of
these precious books I could not have accomplished
my work, for it is only by studying them again and
again, at leisure, for years, that the light has come
to me. The reading possible at a public library
is necessarily too superficial to assimilate the
details of such an intricate subject.
Quantz was a philosopher, a deep thinker,
and an admirable teacher. He had obviously
completely mastered the musical art of his
time. His opinions are rendered all the more
valuable by the fact that he was a friend and
devoted admirer of J. S. Bach. His book should
be republished and translated, for the whole of it
is worthy of study.
Chap. xi. is entitled " Of good Expression in

:
General in Singing or Playing." Here are some

extracts from it :
Page 102 :
" Expression in Music may be
compared to that of an Orator. The Orator and
the Musician have both the same intention, in the
composition as well as the rendering. They want
to touch the heart, to excite or appease the
movements of the soul, and to carry the auditor
from one passion to another. . . .
"The good effect of Music depends almost as

much upon the player as the composer. The best
composition can be spoiled by a bad rendering,
24 17th AND i8th CENTURY MUSIC
and a mediocre composition is improved by good
expression. . . .
" Almost every musician has a different expres-

sion from that of others. . . .
"A good rendering must be first clear and

distinct. Not only must every note be heard, but
each one must be given in its proper value, so
that all become intelligible to the auditor. None
should be omitted, and each sound must be made
as beautiful as it is possible to produce it. . . .
" You must avoid slurring such notes as should

be detached, and not detach those which should be
slurred. The notes must not sound as if they
were stuck together. You must use the tongue for
wind instruments and accented bowing for string
instruments to obtain proper articulation. . . .
" You must not separate ideas which belong to

each other, and, on the contrary, you must divide
them when the musical sense is finished, whether
there be a pause or not. You must, in your
execution, know how to make a difference between
capital- and passing-notes. Capital-notes must
always, if possible, be more emphasised than
passing ones. According to this rule, in pieces of
moderate movement, or even in the Adagio, the
shorter notes should be played somewhat
unequally, although to the sight they appear to be
of the same value so that you must in each
;
figure dwell on such notes as come on the beats,

namely the first, third, fifth and seventh, more than
on the passing ones, which are the second, fourth,
sixth and eighth. You should not however hold
them as long as if they were dotted."
Page 108 " The execution should be easy and
:
flowing. However difficult may be the passage,.

EXPRESSION 25
you must carefully avoid all stiffness or uneasiness

in playing it. A good execution should also be
full of variety. You must continually oppose light
and shade; for you will certainly fail to be
touching, if you play always either loud or soft if —
you use, so to speak, always the same colour, and
do not know how to increase or abate the tone
when required. You must therefore use frequent
changes from forte to piano."
Page 109 " The player must try to feel in
:
himself not only the principal passion but all the

others as they come. And as in most pieces there
is a perpetual change of passions, the player must
be able to judge which feeling is in each thought,

and to regulate his execution upon that. It is in
this way
that he can do justice to the intention of
the composer and to the ideas the latter had in
composing his pieces."
Page no: "Another indication of the dominant
passion in a piece is the word to be found at the
beginning. It may be Allegro, Allegro non tanto,
:
Allegro Allegro molto, Moderate, Presto,

assai,
Allegretto, Andante, Andantino, Arioso, Cantabile,
Spiritoso, Affettuoso, Grave, Adagio, Adagio assai,
Lento, Mesto, &c. All these words, unless they be
used thoughtlessly, severally demand a particular
expression. And besides, as was said before, each
piece of the character described above being
capable of possessing a mixture of thoughts
pathetic, caressing, gay, sublime, —
or light, you must
at each bar, so to speak, adopt another passion,
and be sad, gay, serious, &c, as these changes
are absolutely necessary in music. Whoever can
acquire this perfection will not fail to gain the
applause of his auditors, and his expression will
always prove touching. But it must not be thought
that these fine distinctions can be acquired in a
short time. We cannot even hope to find them in
young people, who are usually too quick and
impatient for that. We grow into them gradually
as feeling and judgment ripen."
All this is so clear and logical that comments
would be superfluous. We cannot help feeling
somewhat discouraged, however, for if it was so
difficult to find the proper expression of music
when its style was familiar to all, and good models
were available, what studies and meditations shall
we have to go through to achieve even a measure
of success, we who not only have no examples to
follow, but are hampered by modern training and
the prejudices of our time!
27
CHAPTER II.
TEMPO.
The proper tempo of a piece of music can
usually be discovered by an intelligent musician,
if he is in sympathy with its style, and possesses
sufficient knowledge of the instrument for which it

was written. But here again we must guard
against prejudice and so-called tradition, for many
a musician who would be sensitive enough to the
tempo of modern music, will not hesitate at
committing the most glaring absurdity when
" old music " is concerned.
Moreover, the influence of the "eye " has to be
considered, especially in the case of the earlier
music. Breves, semibreves, and minims suggest
long notes to a modern. In reality they may
represent moderately short or even very short
notes. At one time minims were employed as
quavers or semiquavers are nowadays. The
common opinion that the old music was slow may
well come from that fact, although there must also
be some other cause for it, for we find it expressed
at almost all times. Perhaps the younger players
of every generation are naturally fond of showing
off the nimbleness of their fingers, even at the
expense of clearness and beauty, whilst mature
artists, or at least some of them, understand that
there is a limit of speed beyond which the ear and
the eye can no longer follow and enjoy the music.
Be that as it may, it is unquestionable that the
old music, as such, was neither slower nor quicker
than the modern. It comprises all sorts of move-
ments slow, moderate, or fast, according to the
:
idea to be expressed ; and even the most gifted

performer will be helped in finding the true
movement of a piece by such knowledge as can
be derived from contemporary writers.
For convenience' sake, we shall consider
separately arbitrary movements* and dance
measures, and begin with the former.
SECTION I.
The treatises of Music of the 16th and early

part of the 17th centuries give, as a rule, very-
complete information as to the relative value of
notes, an intricate question in those days of
" moods " and " prolations " but they do not say
;
much about tempo. Mersenne, in his " Harmonie

Universelle," published 1636, first gives the time-
value of a Minim as that of a beat of the
heart. There is more thorough information in
Christopher Simpson's " Compendium of Music,"
the first edition of which was published in London
in 1665. It is a valuable book of instruction,
and being, like most works of that kind, fifty
years or so behind its time in nearly all its
TEMPO 29
teaching, may be considered as an authority upon

the music of the early part of the 17th century.
At page 13 it gives the relative value of notes in
two schemes one goes from the " Large " to the
;
Semibreve, the other from the Semibreve to the

Demisemiquaver. They are followed by these
explanations :
" Where note, that the Large and Long are now
of little use, being too long for any Voice or
Instrument (the Organ excepted) to hold out to
their full length. But their Rests are still in
frequent use, especially in grave Musick, and
Songs of many Parts.
" You will say, If those Notes you named be too
long for the Voice to hold out, to what purpose were
they used formerly ? To which I answer they :
were used in Tripla Time, and in a quick measure

quicker (perhaps) than we now make our Semibreve
and Minim. For, as After-times added new Notes,
so they (still) put back the former into something
of a slower Measure."
Note the " perhaps " in brackets, which shows
that Simpson was not quite sure of the exact
relation between the earlier long notes and the
shorter notes of his time, but he knew that the
music itself was not any the slower for having been
written in "long" notes. The remark about
"Tripla Time" will find itself explained later.
Simpson continues thus :
"§7. Of Keeping Time.

" Our next business is, to consider how (in such
a diversity of long and short Notes) we come to
give every particular Note its due Measure, without
making it either longer or shorter than it ought to
be. To effect this, we use a constant motion of
the Or, if the Hand be otherwise employed,
Hand.
we use the Foot. If that be also ingaged, the
Imagination (to which these are but assistant) is
able of itself to perform that office. But in this
place we must have recourse to the motion of the
Hand.
" of the Hand is Down and Up,
The motion
successively and equally divided. Every Down
and Up being called a Time or Measure. And by
this we measure the length of a Semibrcve ; which
istherefore called the Measure-Note, or Time-Note.
And therefore, look how many of the shorter Notes
go to a Semibreve, (as you did see in the Scheme).
So many do also go to every Time or Measure.
Upon which accompt, two Minims make a Time,
one down, the other up Four Crotchets a Time,
;
two down, and two up.

" Again, Eight Quavers a Time, four down, and
four up. And so you may compute the rest.
" But you may say, I have told you that a Semi-
breve is the length of a Time, and a Time the length
of a Semibreve, and still you are ignorant what that
length is.
" To which I answer, (in case you have none to
guide your Hand at the first measuring of Notes)
I would have you pronounce these words [One,
Two, Three, Four] in an equal length, as you would

(leisurely) read them Then fancy those four words
:
to be four Crotchets, which make up the quantity or

length of a Semibreve, and consequently of a Time
or Measure : In which, let those two words [One,
Two] be pronounced with the Hand Down and ;
[Three, Fotir] with it Up. In the continuation

TEMPO 31
of thismotion you will be able to Measure and

compute all your other Notes.
" Some speak of having recourse to the motion
of a lively pulse for the measure of Crotchets ; or
Minutes of a steddy going Watch for
to the little
Quavers, by which to compute the length of other
Notes but this which I have delivered, will (I think)
;
be most useful to you."

The beat of the pulse is the same as that of the
heart; of course, it is variable in speed. Some
consider it to average 72 beats per minute. We
shall see later that Quantz estimates it at 80.
But 75 corresponds exactly with Simpson's other
direction, which makes the quavers agree with the
" little minutes " or strokes of a watch, which
usually beat five times a second or 300 times a
minute. This gives 75 for minims a variation ;
of eight or ten strokes per minute is hardly

perceptible. Anyway, the time of a piece of music
continually does and must vary if the music has
any meaning. Such indications as these can,
therefore, only be taken in a general way.
eJ=75 agrees well with the average Madrigal,
Fancy, Ricercare, In Nomine, &c, of the period
1550-1650.
This is from Simpson again :
" § 10. Of Tripla Time.

" When you see this figure [3] set at the
beginning of a Song or Lesson, it signifies that
the Time or Measure must be computed by Threes,
as we formerly did it by Fours.
" Sometimes the Tripla consists of three Semi-
breves to a Measure, each Semibrcve being shorter
than a Minim in Common Time.
The more common Tripla, is three Minims to a
"
Measure, each Minim about the length of a Crochet
in Common Time . . .
" In those two sorts of Tripla we compt or

imagine these two words [One, Two] with the
Hand down, and this word [Three] with it up."
The information given here is very important,
since by it we are warned of a diminution of over
half the value of notes when the time of a piece
changes from Common to Triple Time. This
agrees admirably with the sections in Triple Time
often to be met with in pieces starting in Common
Time, and also with the Galliards following Pavans,
which will be considered later among the Dance
movements.
The many editions of Playford's " Introduction
to the Skill of Music" between 1654 and 1703
agree with Simpson's directions. So does Mace
in his " Musick's Monument," only in a more
strenuous though less correct way, thanks to his
own picturesque style. His advice as to keeping,
time is worth quoting.
Page 78 ": . And thus must your
. .
Foot constantly be in Motion, during your Play,

and equally dividing your Down from your Up, so
exactly that not the least Difference may be
perceived which if you carefully practice at the
;
first, you will ever continue It but if you be

;
remiss in the beginning, you will always after be

uncertain, not only to your own hindrance, but
also to all others, who shall play in Consort
with you. .".
In the first edition of Purcell's " Lessons for the

Spinet," 1696, the following directions are given.
There is no proof that they are Purcell's the book ;
TEMPO 33
was published by his widow, one year after his

death. Here they are :
"There being nothing more difficult in Musick

then playing of true time, tis therefore nessesary to
be observ'd by all practitioners, of which there are
two sorts, Common time and Triple time, & is
distinguish'd by this C, this (£ or this mark, y e
c
first is a very slow movement, y next a little
faster, and y last a brisk & airy time, & each of
e
them has allways to ye length of one Semibreif in

a barr, which is to be held in playing as long as
you can moderately tell four, by saying one, two,
three, four; two Minums as long as one Semibreif,
four Crotchets as long as two Minums, eight
Quavers as long as four Crotchets, sixteen Semi-
quavers as long as eight Quavers.
" Triple time consists of either three or six
Crotchets in a barr, and is to be known by this |,
this 3-1, this 3 or this f marke, to the first there is
three Minums in a barr, and is commonly play'd
very slow, the second has three Crotchets in a barr,
and they are to be play'd slow, the third has y e
same as y c former but is play'd faster, y e last has
six Crotchets in a barr & is Commonly to brisk
tunes as Jiggs and Paspys. ..."
It must be said, however, that although the
majority of Purcell's pieces agree with the above
explanations, the exceptions are frequent. For
example, he uses the sign 2 sometimes for " brisk,"
sometimes for slow movements. He uses f for
Hornpipes, which are very fast, and not very slow,
as they should be according to the explanations.
He uses 3-1 sometimes for three crotchets in a bar,
at other times for three quavers in a bar. He also
uses I, I, *£, about which nothing is said at times
;
— —

he gives no indications whatever. It follows that
there was much difference between theory and
practice in those days as now, and one has to
know more than the explanations tell us to decide
upon the right tempo of a piece by Purcell.
" The Compleat Flute Master, or the whole
Art of playing on y e Rechorder " (Anonymous,
London, c. 1700), gives the following Table of
Time-signatures :
" C Very slow motion.

" § Somewhat faster.
" § Brisk and light Ayres.
" 2 Grave movement.

"3 Slow.
"
4 Fast, for Jiggs, Paspies, &c."
" Paspies," of course, means " Passepieds."

Note that $ is not double the speed of C, but only
" somewhat faster."
"The Compleat Tutor for the Violin," by
" Mr. Dean," London, 1707, has the following:
"C Very solid or slow movement.

"0 Quicker.
" or % as quick again as the first, and
ij)
are call'd Retorted Time.

" g Very slow.
"
|1 Much quicker."
This does not agree with the preceding. We

may note that {J) or % is "as quick again " as C-
% is not often to be met with, and neither is c-
Then f is now said to be " much quicker" instead
TEMPO 35
of "Grave Movement." These contradictions are
hard to understand; but the practice of Purcell,
as shown before, is sufficient warning of the
necessity of carefully analysing a piece before
deciding its tempo.
Of all the authors who have given indications for
the tempi of old music, Quantz, the 18th century
writer already quoted, is the clearest, most thorough,
and most precise. His system is also based upon
the beat of the pulse, but with additional directions.
Chronometers had been proposed in earlier times ;
but these, he rightly observes, you cannot always

carry about, whilst your pulse is ever there.
Chap, xvii., Sect, vii., §55. " I must answer in
advance some objections which might perhaps be
made against my method of finding the movement.
One might say that the beats of the pulse are
not equally fast at each hour of the day and in
each person, which would be necessary, if one would
regulate upon it the movement in music. It will
be said that the pulse beats in the morning before
dinner more slowly than it does after dinner item ;
that it beats more slowly in a man inclined to

sadness than in another who is quick and merry.
This may be true however it may be possible on
;
this point to determine something precise. You

need only take the beat of the pulse, as it is after
dinner until the evening, and in a bright man, in
good humour, who is besides of a quick and warm
disposition and you will be sure to be right. A man
in low spirits, sad, cold and heavy, could give the
time of each piece a little quicker than the beat of
his pulse. In case this is not yet sufficient, I shall
determine it still further. You take for measure the
ptUse which beats about eighty times in a minute.
Eighty beats of the pulse make forty bars of the
quickest Common time. A few beats more or less
make no difference here for example, five beats
;
more or less in a minute make forty bars each a

semiquaver longer or shorter but this is so little
;
that one could not notice it. He whose pulse

makes in a minute much more or less than eighty
beats will know what he has to do with regard to
the augmentation or diminution of the speed of the
movement.
" Supposing even that notwithstanding all this
the means I have just proposed could not be given
as general and universal, although I could prove it
not only by the beat of my own pulse but by other
and various experiments which I have made, not
only about my own works but about those of others
and with different persons, the pulse could at least
be useful to the one who, by this method, will have
made for himself a clear idea of the four principal
kinds of movement, so that he will not wander too
far from the movement of each piece. One can
see every day how the movement is ill-treated, and
that the same piece is played now moderately, then
quickly, or again still more quickly. One knows
that in some places music is played anyhow a
;
Presto is often turned into an Allegretto and an

Andante into an Adagio, which could not help being
to the greatest disadvantage of the composer, who
cannot always be present.
is pretty well known that when a piece is
" It
repeated directly one or more times, specially if it
is a quick piece, for example the Allegro of a
Concerto or a Symphony, one always plays it the
second time a little quicker than the first, so as not
to make the auditors fall asleep. If one did not do
TEMPO 37
this, the auditors would not know that the piece

has already been finished.
" If, on the contrary, it is repeated in a slightly
quicker tempo, it will get by it a livelier air, new
and strange, so to speak ; and this calls fresh

attention from the auditor. This practice is not
disadvantageous to the pieces, and it is used by
good and mediocre players who all find the effect
equally good.
" But, there would be no harm, anyway, if a man
in low spirits played, according to his disposition,
the pieces a little slower, and a quick man a little
quicker, so long as they render the spirit of the
music.
" To conclude, if anybody knows of a means
more easy, more precise or commodious to learn
to know and not miss the movement, he would
do well not to delay to communicate it to the
Public."
We will now study in detail the teachings of
Quantz as to Tempo.
Chap, xvii., Sect, vii., § 49 :
" Before going any further, I must examine more
exactly the different sorts of movement. There are

so many in Music that it would be impossible to
determine them all. However, there are some
principal kinds, from which one can deduct the
others and taking them as they are found in
;
Concertos, Trios, and Solos, I shall make four

classes of them, which will be our foundations.
They are taken in Common time, with four beats
in a bar, and are as follows: i°- Allegro assai.
2° -
Allegretto. 3°- Adagio cantabile. 4°- Adagio
assai. In the first class include the Allegro
I
molto, the Presto, &c. In the second: the Allegro

ma non tanto, non troppo, non presto, moderate), &c.
In the third: the Cantabile, Arioso, Larghetto,
Soave, Dolce, Poco andante, Affettuoso, Pomposo,
Maestoso, alia Siciliana, Adagio spiritoso, &c. ;
lastly, in the fourth class: Adagio pesante, Lento,

Largo assai, Mesto, Grave, &c. These appellations
indicate differences proper to each kind however,
;
they concern as much the expression of feelings

which predominate in each piece as the tempo
itself. Provided you understand well the four
typical kinds of movement, the others will be
learned easily, for their difference is not great.
"§ 50. It is therefore the Allegro assai which
is the fastest of these four types. The Allegretto
goes half the speed of the Allegro assai. The
Adagio cantabile half the speed of the Allegretto.
The Adagio assai half the speed of the Adagio
cantabile. In the Allegro assai the runs are in
semiquavers or triplets of quavers, and in the
Allegretto in demisemiquavers or triplets of
semiquavers. But, as these runs should be played
mostly at the same speed, be they semiquavers
or demisemiquavers, it follows that notes of the
same value are played in the one double the speed
they are in the other. It is the same thing in the
Alia breve, called by the Italians Tempo maggiore,
and which is always marked by a capital C crossed
((£), be the movement slow or quick, except that the
notes are here played twice as quickly as in the full
Common time of four in a bar. In consequence,
in that sort of movement, the runs of the Allegro
are written in quavers, but are played like the
semiquavers of the Common time.
" It is the same thing with regard to Triple time,
for example, f, | or lg, &c. When in a | there are
TEMPO 39
only quavers, in a | semiquavers, and in a § or ^
quavers, it is a proof that the quickest tempo is
intended. But if there are semiquavers in a \ or
demisemiquavers in a % or triplets of semiquavers
in | or *g, then a moderate movement should be
taken, and the speed half of that mentioned before.
It is just the same thing with the Adagio, provided
you pay attention to the degree of slowness I have
mentioned at the beginning of this paragraph, and
to the kind of tempo, that is, whether full time or
Alia breve.
§ 51. To explain more clearly how it is possible
"
by means of the pulse to find the right speed of
each movement, one must note that it is necessary,
before everything to consider the word written at
the beginning of the piece, and which indicates the
tempo, as well as the quickest notes which form the
runs. And, as it is hardly possible to execute,
during one beat of the pulse, more than eight very
quick notes, either with double-tongueing or with
the bow, it follows that :
" In Common time :
" In the Allegro assai each half-bar lasts one beat

of the pulse.
" In the Allegretto each crotchet one beat of pulse.
" In the Adagio cantabile each quaver the same.
" In the Adagio assai each quaver two beats of the
pulse.
" InAlia breve time :
" In the Allegroeach bar one beat of the pulse.

"In the Allegretto each half-bar one beat of the
pulse.
" In the Adagio cantabile for each crotchet one beat.
" In the Adagio assai for each crotchet two beats.
" especially in ordinary Common time,
There is,
a kind of moderate Allegro, which is half-way

between Allegro assai and Allegretto. It is often
found in pieces for the Voice or such instruments
as are unable to play very quick runs. It is
indicated by the words Poco allegro, Vivace, or
more commonly, Allegro. You should count in
this sort of movement one beat of the pulse for
every three quavers, the second beat falling upon
the fourth quaver.
" In | or | time, Allegro, each bar lasts one beat
of the pulse. In l§ time when there are no semi-
quavers each bar takes two pulse-beats.
"In a | Allegro, when there are runs of semi-
quavers or triplets of quavers, it would not be
possible to determine the speed accurately by the
pulse, for one single bar. But, it is possible by
combining two bars, for then one counts the beat
of the pulse upon the first and last crotchets of the
first bar, and on the second crotchet of the second
bar, and consequently three pulse-beats for six
crotchets.
" It is the
same in § time.
" In | or | time, in quick time, when there are not
more than six notes in a bar, one must only count
one pulse-beat in a bar. In a Presto, however, this
would be too slow. To know the speed of these
three crotchets or quavers in a Presto, one should
take the speed of the Common time when it is very
fast and four quavers come in one pulse-beat, and
play the three crotchets or quavers as fast as the
quavers in the Common time aforesaid.
"In an Adagio cantabile in f time, when the
bass moves in quavers (as in many Sarabandes
of Corelli, Bach, &c.) each quaver takes one
TEMPO 41
pulse-beat. But, if the bass moves in crotchets,

and that the tune be rather Arioso than sad,
one counts for each crotchet one pulse-beat.
However, one should also consider the style, and
the word written at the beginning ;for if there
is Adagio assai, Mesto or Lento, then each crotchet
should take two pulse-beats.
" In an Arioso in |, each quaver has one pulse-
beat.
" A
Siciliana in g2 would be too slow if one gave
one pulse-beat to each quaver. But if you divide
two pulse-beats into three parts, there comes upon
both the first and third quavers one pulse-beat. And
after you have divided these three notes, you must
pay no more attention to the pulse, otherwise the
third quaver would be too long.
" When in a quick piece the runs are composed
of triplets only, without admixture of ordinary
semi- or demisemiquavers, the piece might be
played, if agreeable, a little faster than the pulse
beats."
Here an interpolation might be allowed ; it is
useful, and, moreover, its mention of a " musical

machine " is interesting in its curious anticipation
of a modern invention.
Chap, xii., § 11: "Whatever quickness the
A llegro may one must never go beyond a
require,
regulated and reasonable movement. Art might
well invent a musical machine which could play
certain pieces with a speed and accuracy so
singular that nobody could equal it, either with
finger or tongue. One would admire it, but one
could never be touched by it; and after hearing
such a thing once or twice, and knowing how it is
done, one would cease to admire it. If one wishes
— — ;

to touch and please the ear in an Allegro, one
must indeed play each piece with its proper fire
but the movement must never be precipitated,
otherwise the piece would lose all its attraction."
The above directions can be condensed into the
following table :
Allegro assai or Presto in Common

time, with semiquavers .... J= 160
Allegro moderate or Poco allegro,
or Vivace or plain Allegro .... J= 120
Allegretto J= 80
Adagio cantabile .... .... ....
J^,
q
Adagio assai .... .... .... ^

*= 40
The speed of the Allegro assai or Presto is very
great ; few players would care to exceed it. That
of the Allegro moderate plenty fast enough.
Obviously, the " Old Music " was not devoid
of speed.
Now let us return to Quantz :
"
§ 52. What I have explained above applies
most exactly and most often to Instrumental
music. As to vocal music, especially Airs in the
Italian style, it is true that almost every one
demands its particular movement.
" But these divers movements are nearly all
derived from the four principal types I have
described. One should consider the sense of the
words, the movement of the notes, especially the
quickest, and in quick airs the ability and
the voice of the singer. A singer who uses the
chest voice for runs is hardly able to execute them
as quickly as one who uses his head-voice, although
the former will always be the more valuable of the
TEMPO 43
two, especially in a large space. With a little
experience and the knowledge that Vocal music
does not as a rule require so fast a tempo as music
for instruments, one should find out the right one
without particular difficulties.
" It is the same with Church music as
§ 53.
with the Airs except that the expression as well
;
as the Tempo should be more moderate than in

Opera, to show due regard to the Holiness of
the place."
The speed of the Allegro, as given above, is
confirmed in a book entitled :
" La Tonotechnie,
ou l'Art de Noter les cylindres et tout ce qui est
susceptible de Notage dans les Instruments de
Concerts Mechaniques, par le Pere Engramelle,
Religieux Augustin de la Reine Marguerite.
Paris, 1775."
It treats of the same matter as the last part of
" L'Art du Facteur d'Orgues," of Dom Bedos,
already mentioned at page 1, and appeared about
the same time. We shall have occasion to return
to " La Tonotechnie," for its statements as a rule
possess that absolute scientific precision which is
but too rarely observed in our subject.
" La Tonotechnie," page 9 :
" In all carefully noted Pieces of Music, one

expresses with a few Italian or French words the
approximate degree of speed of the piece ; but
these words being only general do not indicate
precisely the quantity of minutes or seconds which
must be employed in their execution. Taste only
decides it so that if the player is naturally gay, or
;
sad, his genius being affected by his disposition, he

will play either too fast or too slow, and consequently
spoil the piece.
" Let us give, I suppose, to a Musician naturally
slow or sad, an Allegro in f of 20 bars instead of
;
the 20 seconds its execution should take in the

speed necessary to its proper expression, he may
take 40 or 50, and this A llegro, which would be a
charming air if played within 20 seconds, becomes
a pitiful thing, and capable of sending one to sleep
in the hands of such a player : and it is the same
with other movements. If they are too slow,
they become wearisome if they are too hurried,
;
they irritate, for they depart from their proper

character."
SECTION II.
The Tempo of Dance Movements.

With regard to the earlier dances, we have no
precise indications of Tempo, only relative values
and descriptions. It would be possible to approach
very near to the truth by a conscientious study of
the dancing steps. There are plenty of treatises
on dancing containing all the needful information.
Their study, and the consequent authentic revival
of the old dances, would be most interesting and
delightful unfortunately it is still in a rudimentary
;
stage. Practical musicians, it is true, are little

inclined towards historical research, but dancers
are even worse on that point. The revivals of old
dances now in fashion do not as a rule go much
deeper 'than invented steps upon a more or less
correct tune. (See Note on page 52.)
One of the difficulties of our subject is that
owing to the variations of speed and character
which affect dances through their career, the name
of a dance does not in itself carry a sufficiently
precise meaning, for most dances have become
THE TEMPO OF DANCE MOVEMENTS 45
deeply altered by changes of country and the
influence of fashion. A familiar instance is the
Waltz, which has undergone so many trans-
formations within living memory.
As a rule, dances are rapid and lively when first
introduced. They become slow and sentimental
as they grow old. This would make an interesting
subject for research. It is beyond the scope of the
present work, but some general indications will be
found useful in explaining the contradictions
contained in some of the statements which follow.
The Galliard in the 16th century was true to its
name, being lively and stirring. It had become
" Grave and Sober " about 1650.
The Courante, or Coranto, as its name implies
was very rapid about 1600. It had become much
slower about 1700.
The Saraband, about 1650, in England was the
quickest of the dances very nearly at the same
;
time, in France, the " Sarabande Grave " was slow

and pathetic. The Sarabands of Handel and
Bach are all more or less slow movements.
The Menuet had a chequered career. Its name
nowadays evokes a moderately slow, graceful
movement, of the type of Mozart's Menuet in
" Don Giovanni." Fifty years ago it was played
fast.
If look into Brossard's Dictionary of Music,
we
published at Paris in 1703, we find: "Menuet:
Very merry which came from Poitou.
Dance,
One ought, imitation
in of the Italians, to
use the signature | or | to mark its movement,
which is always very gay and very fast. But the
custom of marking it by a simple 3 or \ has
prevailed."
:

Now us see the " Encyclopedie " of Diderot
let
and d'Alembert, compiled about 175° :
—
" Menuet, kind of dance which, the Abbe
Brossard tells us, came originally from Poitou.
He says that this dance is very gay and its
movement very fast. This is not quite right. The
character of the Menuet is a noble and elegant
simplicity the movement is moderate rather than
;
quick. It may be said that the least gay of all the

kinds of dances used in our balls is the menuet."
The contradiction is as flat as can be. Yet both
authors are right the writer in the " Encyclopedie,"
;
like most musicians of our epoch, only knew the

music in common use at his time A little English
!
Dictionary of Music, published in 1724, says

" Minuetto, a Minuet, a French Dance so-called, or
the Tune or Air belonging thereunto. This Dance
and Air being so well known that it needs no
Explanation." This is scant information.
These few facts must warn the student that
before deciding on the tempo of a dance he must
consider its period and country.
The following extracts are from Thomas
Morley's " Plaine and Easie Introduction to
Practicall Musicke," first edition, London, 1597,
page 181 ": Pavane, a kind of staide musicke,
. . .
ordained for grave dauncing, and most commonlie

made of three straines, whereof everie straine is
plaid or sung twice ... in this you must cast
your musicke by foure, so that if you keep that rule
it is no matter how many foures you put in your
straine, for it will fall out well enough in the ende,

the arte of dauncing being come to that perfection that
everie reasonable dauncer will make measure of no
measure, so that it is no great matter of what
number you make your strayne." (The italics
are addedthe passage applies so well to some
;
of the characteristics of our latest school of

dancing that it seems as if it had just been written,
instead of 300 years ago.)
" After every pavan we usually set a Galliard
(that is a kind of musicke made out of the other)
causing it to go by a measure consisting of a
. . .
long and short stroke successivelie the first . . .
being in time of a semibrefe, and the latter of a

minime. This is a lighter and more stirring kinde
of dauncing than the pavane The Italians
. . .
make their Galliardes, (which they tearme Saltarelli)

plaine, and frame ditties to them, which in their
mascaradoes they sing and daunce, and many times
without any instruments at all, but in steed of
instrumentes they have Curtisans disguised in
men's apparell, who sing and daunce to their owne
songes.
" The Alman is a more heavie daunce than this,
(fitlie representing the nature of the people, whose
name it carrieth), so that no extraordinarie motions
are used in dauncing of it.

" Like unto this is the French bransle (which
they call bransle simple) which goes somewhat
rounder in time than this, otherwise the measure
is all one.
" bransle de Poictou or bransle double is more
The
quick in time . . Like unto this (but more
.
light) be the voltes and courantes which being both

of a measure, are notwithstanding daunced after
sundrie fashions, the volte rising and leaping, the
courante travising and running, in which measure
also our countrey daunce is made, though it be
daunced after another forme then any of the
— ;

former. .There bee also many other kindes of
. .
daunces (as homepypes, jygges, and infinite more)

which I cannot nominate unto you, but knowing
these, the rest can not but be understood, as being
one with some of these which I have alreadie told
you."
Here is Thomas Mace's (c. 1650) list of
Dances :—
Page 129, :
" Pavines, are Lessons of 2, 3, or 4 Strains, very

Grave and Sober ; full of Art, and Profundity, but
seldom us'd, in These our Light Days.
" Allmaines, are Lessons very Ayrey, and Lively ;
and generally of Two Strains, of the Common or

Plain-Time.
should be, of the same Time,
" Ayres, are, or
(yet many make and call them so ;) only
Tripla's,
they differ from Allmaines by being commonly
Shorter, and of a more Quick, and Nimble
Performance.
" Galliards, are Lessons of 2 or 3 Strains, but
are perform'd in a Slow, and Large Triple-Time
and (commonly) Grave and Sober.
" Corantoes, are Lessons of a Shorter Cut, and of
a quicker Triple-Time commonly of 2 Strains,
;
and full Sprightfulness, and Vigour, Lively,

of
Brisk and Cheerful.
" Serabands, are of the Shortest Triple-Time
;
but are more Toyish, and Light, than Corantoes

and commonly of Two Strains.
"A Tattle de Moy, is a New Fashion'd Thing,
much like a Seraband only It has more of Conceit
;
in It, as (in a manner) speaking the word, (Tatle de

Moy) and of Humour That Conceit being never
;
before Publish'd, but Broached together with this

Work. may supply the Place of a Seraband, at
It
the End
of a Suit of Lessons, at any Time.
" Chichona's, are only a few Conceited Humorous
Notes, at the end of a Suit of Lessons, very Short,
(viz.) many in Number yet sometimes consists
not ;
of TwoStrains, although but of Two Semibreves

in a Strain, and commonly, of a Grave kind of
Humour.
" Toys, or Jiggs, are Light-Squibbish Things,
only fit for Fantastical, and Easie-Light-Headed
People ; and are of any sort of Time.
Common Tunes (so
" called) are Commonly
known by the Boys, and Common People, Singing
them and
in the Streets, Time,
are of either sort of
of which there are many, very Excellent, and well
Contriv'd Pieces, Neat and Spruce Ayres.
" The Ground, is a set Number of Slow Notes,
very Grave, and Stately which, (after it is ;
express'd once, or Twice, very Plainly) then He

that hath Good Brains, and a Good Hand, .
undertakes to Play several Divisions upon it, Time

afterTime, till he has show'd his Bravery, both of
Invention, and Hand."
In the above, notice the Galliard, slow ; the
:
Coranto, lively, brisk, &c. The Saraband, more

toyish and light than the Coranto.
The Tattle de Moy is an invention of Mace, and
has but slight importance.
The Chichona I have never met with, not even
amongst Mace's works.
His appreciation of popular tunes is interesting,
and very true. His description of Grounds is
excellent. These two last are out of place
amongst the dances, but they are in Mace's list
and worth quoting.
We shall now proceed with Quantz, where
priceless information concerning the Bach-Handel
period is obtainable.
Chap, xvii., Sect, vii., § 58. The Entree, the
"
Loure and the Courante are played with majesty,
and the bow is detached at each crotchet, whether
there be a dot or not. One counts for each
crotchet one beat of the pulse.
" The Sarabande has the same Tempo, but it
is played with an expression a little more
agreeable.
A Chacone is also played with majesty. One
"
beat of the Pulse makes two crotchets.
" A Passecaille is equal to it, but is played a little
faster. A Musette is expressed very flatteringly.
One counts one beat of the pulse for each crotchet
in a I or for each quaver in a g. Sometimes a fancy
comes to certain dancers to have it played so fast
that there is only one beat of the pulse for a
whole bar.
" A Fury is played with much fire. One counts
one beat of the pulse on two crotchets, whether in
Common or Triple Time.
" A Bourree and a Rigaudon are played merrily
and with a short and light bowing. Each bar has
one beat of the pulse.
" A Gavotte is almost equal to the Rigaudon ; it
has, however, a more moderate movement. A
Rondeau is played with a certain tranquillity, and
one beat of the pulse comprises almost two
crotchets, either in the Allabreve or in the |.
" The Gigue and the Canarie have the same
movement. they are composed in | time,
If
each bar has one pulse beat. The Gigue is played
with a short and light bow, but in the Canarie,
which consists always of dotted notes, the bowing

is short and sharp.
The Menuet is played in a manner which nearly
"
bears or lifts the Dancer up, and one marks the
crotchets with a rather heavy bowing, though short.
One counts for two crotchets one pulse beat.
" A Passepied is played a little more lightly and
quickly than a Menuet.
" A Tambourin is played like a Bourree or
Rigaudon, only a little faster.
" A Mardie is played seriously. When it is
written in Alia Breve or Bourree time, two pulse-

beats are given to each bar."
These explanations may be resumed thus :
entree, .uoure, courante....

Sarabande ....
—
Sarabandes of Bach might well be played a little
slower, and some of the Courantes quicker in fact, ;
one must use one's judgment in applying the time

of a real dance to a piece composed indeed on
the same rhythm, but intended only to please
the ear.
In " Dom Bedos " (1766), already mentioned at
page 1, we find the following indications :
Page 606 " Marches of 24 bars, in lively move-

:
ment commonly last only 20 seconds, which makes

a second a bar, half a second per minim, one
quarter of a second per crotchet, &c. Menuets
of 24 bars, of lively character, also last 20
seconds movements in f and | of the same
;
character last also 20 seconds pieces in | or ;
quick Allemandes of 32 bars, 20 seconds: all

these airs would fill up each their turn of the
cylinder."
It may
be that they would not be all so even,
had not the " cylinder " to be filled. Still they
cannot have been much out, and they indicate
a standard of speed which effectually disposes of
the notion that the old music was played slower
than that of the present time.
Note to Page 44.
Since these lines were written, many old dances have been revived
by Mrs. Arnold Dolmetsch, and important discoveries made. An
account of the results will be published later.
53
CHAPTER III.
CONVENTIONAL ALTERATIONS OF
RHYTHM.
Section I.
In modern notation the rhythm of the music is

indicated with almost perfect accuracy. It was
not the same in the old music. As Couperin
says, " We write differently from what we play."
Alterations of time were frequent and important.
We must therefore know the rules and conventions
by which they were governed, or else the foundation
of our playing will be lacking.
In instruction books, be they old or new, we
learn that " a dot after a note makes it half as
long again." In spite of the intended modern
precision there are still exceptions to that rule.
In military marches, for example, figures like
J. > and are played j

g
and
J7J ># Jfc J7jj"J
but such instances are rare. In the old music, on
the contrary, the exceptions were extremely frequent
and important. Quantz, in the book already quoted,
— —
will help us to find out the real value of the dot in
his time.
Chap, v., § 21 :"Quavers, semiquavers, and
demisemiquavers with dots do not follow the
general rule on account of the vivacity which they
must express. You must remark, above all, that
the note which follows the dot in examples (c) and
(d) must be played as quick as the one at (e), let the
movement be slow or quick :
From this it follows that the dotted note at (c) takes

nearly all the time of a crotchet, the one at (d) that
of a quaver. To get a more distinct idea of this,
play slowly the notes of the lower part at (/) and
at (g), each example according to its proportion
of time ; that is, the one at (d) double the speed of
that at (c), and the one at (e) double the speed
of that at (d), and imagine at the same time the
notes of the upper part (at (/) ) with the dots :
Then, doing the reverse, play the notes of the

upper part, and make the dotted notes last until
the dotted notes of the lower part are finished the
;
semiquavers will last only as long as the hemidemi-

semiquavers of the lower part. In this way you
will see that the dotted quavers in the upper part
at (/) must have the length of three semiquavers
ALTERATIONS OF RHYTHM 55
plus a dotted demisemiquaver, and those at (g) of a
semiquaver and a dotted demisemiquaver. But
those at (h) will have only the length of a demi-
semiquaver with a dot and a half, because the
notes in the lower part have two dots."
§ 22 " This rule must also be observed, when
:
one of the parts has triplets, whilst the other has

dotted notes :
|
a
" Ex. (a) The small note which follows the dot
:
should only be played after the third note of the

triplet, and not with it, or else it would bring
confusion with | or ^ time, Ex. (b). These two
kinds of notes require quite a different treatment.
. . If one did play the dotted notes under
.
triplets according to their ordinary value, their

expression would be blurred and insipid, instead
of brilliant."
§ 23 " The notes in the example below have
:
some resemblance with the dotted notes mentioned

above. With regard to the duration of the dot and
of the first note, the order is merely reversed :
m
(a)
=B=ff
(»)
^
w
—

The notes (D) and (C) in Ex. (a) must last no longer
than those at Ex. (c), either in slow or in quick time.
One does the same thing with the two short notes
at (b) and (d) here the two only take the time of
;
one. You must also play the notes after the

dots at Exx. (e) and (/) (below) as quickly, and
with the same precipitation as those before the
dots at (b) and (d) :
" quicker you make the first notes at (a), (b),

The
(c), (d), the more vivacious and bold the expression.
On the contrary, the longer you hold the dots at (e)

and (/), the more caressing and agreeable will the
expression be."
In Chap, xvii., Sect, vii., § 58, after some
remarks about the tempo of the measure of two
beats in a bar, the (f, he says " In that measure,
:
as well as in the time of three crotchets in a bar

(|), which is used for the Loure, the Saraband, the
Courante, and the Chacone, the quavers which follow
the dotted crotchets are not to be played according
to their exact value, but very shortly and sharply.
The dotted note must be emphasised and the bow
stopped during the dot. All dotted notes should
be played in the same way whenever the time
allows it and when there are three or more
;
semiquavers after a dot, or a rest, they should not

be given their exact value, especially in slow pieces ;
but waiting until the very end of the time allotted

to them, one plays them with the utmost speed, as
isoften the case in Overtures, Entrees, and Furies.

One must, however, give every one of these quick
notes a separate bowing, and one can hardly slur
anything."
This is written for violin players, but the reader
will understand that it applies to music in general,
and not to a particular instrument. The author,
advising the violoncellist, also says in Chap, xvii.,
Sect, iv., § 11 " He should play his dotted
:
notes more seriously and heavily than the violins ;
but as to the semiquavers which follow, he must

make them short and sharp either in slow or quick
time."
Attention should here be called to a point upon
which Quantz does not insist quite enough. When
he says, in the above quoted paragraph, that " the
bow should be stopped during the dot," he obviously
means that the dot becomes a rest. There being
no example given, this very important fact might
be overlooked. We find it clearly demonstrated
in Rellstab's " Anleitung fur Clavierspieler, den
Gebrauch der Bach'schen Fingersetzung, die
Manieren und den Vortrag betreffend" (Berlin,'
1790) :—
— .
.• » -r
-rr£"n ,
f-5
etc
d. S
«-tn« "Plo-rrorl taMBtar
Written.
1
Played.
But to return to Quantz.

Chap, xvii., Sect, ii., § 16: "When after a
'long note and a short rest come some demisemi-
quavers, the latter should always be played very
quickly, either in Adagio or Allegro.'"
— — — —
58 i
You must, then, before playing them, wait until
the very end of the time which belongs to them,
thus avoiding faulty time :
£ffe
iis^=mz E3=
**r
"If slow Allabrcve, or ordinary Common
in a
time, there is a semiquaver rest on the accented
beat followed by dotted notes :
*£=¥-
SEeÎSe! Baf E =
§X :££i)
you must play the rest as if there were a dot to

it or another rest of half its value, and that the
following note were a demisemiquaver."
The last example, according to this rule and the
explanations of Chap, xvii., Sect. vii. above, would
be played thus :
£=.»=JF=='
SpESSsaaES^gEggg
=s==P=g=P
In the same chapter, § 24, Quantz again

mentions the lengthened dots. Explaining the
various styles of Allegro movements, he says :
"... The majestic is expressed by long

notes, during which the other parts have rapid
passages, and by dotted notes. The latter must
be marked with strength and accent. One holds
the dot and disposes quickly of the following
note." (See Chap, v., §§ 21 and 22, already quoted

at pp. 54, 55-)
Charles Philipp Emanuel Bach, in his treatise on
harpsichord playing entitled " Versuch iiber die
wahre Art das Clavier zu spielen," first published
in 1753, also gives rules about the irregular value of
dots: Page 113, par. 23: "The short notes which
follow dots are always made shorter than the
written text indicates, so that it would be superfluous
to write them with dots to the long ones or additional
strokes to the stems of the short ones.
" The short notes at Exx. (a), (b), (c) would all be
played at the same rate : —
(0)
— ——
Nothing could better prove how general was
this habit of lengthening dots than this one
exception (e) given by the author against the mass
of directions enjoining the other way of playing
them.
But let us return to our author and continue the
same paragraph :
" The point, after long notes as well as short

notes, in slow time generally indicates that the
sound should be sustained. But it happens that in
quick movements, when there are many dotted
notes in succession, this rule is not followed. It is
desirable that in such cases the composers would
give all requisite precision to their text. If they
have not done so, one may derive much light from
the inner meaning of the Piece."
Here another digression is necessary. It will be
remembered that according to Quantz's directions
(Chap, xvii., Sect, vii., par. 58, given before at
page 56) to violin players, the bow should be
stopped during the dot, a rest taking the place of
the dot or part of the dot. This is so natural that
Quantz does not give any further explanations
about it. But C. Ph. E. Bach belongs to
a newer generation. Not only does he favour
new methods of expression, but he endeavours
in every way to introduce more precision in the
notation.
The rest of the paragraph says :
" The dots after short notes, followed by notes

still shorter, should be sustained :
• -0-
" § 24. The first note of such figures as given

below, because they are slurred, will not be so
shortly dismissed, when the Tempo is moderate or
slow, or else too much time would be left to the
next note. These first notes require a gentle
pressure, not a quick jerk " :
m s
s^y
This does not agree with Quantz's rule, given

before at page 56. But if we turn to the " Klavier-
schule " of Daniel Gottlob Turk, published at
Leipzig in 1789, and one of the last of these
philosophical methods of music, we find the
difference greater still. Here are his precepts :
Page 363, end of § 48 " The figures of which

:
the first note is short and the second dotted are

without exception gently slurred and flattered.
The first certainly takes the accent, but the
emphasis should be very gentle (a) —
^^
(«) (*)
$ £g±gg ^m
"
One must not hurry the first note, particularly
in slow movements, so that the melody may not be
corrupted in a careless way, or lose its roundness,
when the first sound is played so short and the dot
moreover transformed into a rest as at (b).
" Note Formerly, one gave the first note of such
:
figures a very short duration, so much so that

Agricola writes When the short note is first, and
:
'
the dot is after the second, then the first note

should be as short as possible, which will render
the dotted note more pleasant.' Bach on the
contrary says at page 113: 'The first note will
not be so shortly dismissed, when the Tempo is
moderate or slow,' &c."
All this points to a gradual change of style.
Quantz, although twelve years younger than
J. S. Bach, belonged to his school. Agricola,
although very much younger, was a direct pupil
of Bach, and followed his master's ideas for
a long time. But C. Ph. E. Bach was the
leader of the new school it is he that Turk
;
calls " Bach." At the time of Turk's writing

J. S. Bach's music was out of fashion.
Therefore Turk's interpretation applies to the
C. Ph. E. Bach-Haydn-Mozart period. Quantz
and Agricola should be followed for the works
of the preceding generation, which includes
Danglebert, Couperin, Rameau, Handel, J. S.
Bach.
This conventional lengthening of dots and rests
does not seem to have been mentioned in books
anterior to Quantz. If, however, we remember
that double dots or combined rests were not used

till the end
of the 18th century, that their
rhythm quite natural, and that the music of
is
the 1 6th and 17th centuries abounds in passages

which demand it, we can but feel justified in
music alike in this respect.
treating all the old
Moreover, Quantz does not speak of it as of an
innovation. Were modern players less bound
by the written text, they never would have played
any other way; their instinct would have guided
them to the proper interpretation, which is much

more natural and beautiful.
We can hardly over-estimate the importance of
thisknowledge of the meaning of dots and rests
in old music, which transforms an apparently
ponderous movement into one of majestic beauty
or thrilling energy. See, for example, the
"Sinfonia" in Handel's "Messiah," as given
below :
Grave.
EBE EP£ EgzU

liM^fe
U
"-^
-m-*-
^F^zz^zjp^^gfj; ~See$e^
=S=I"=
f =F
giî E«S
-*V*-4-
ESESEE
5
igt *l
P^Êfe Si eES
-3
3r =t
fc SB fcb A
=a±*
I r~r *?= e!e*
&^ -=t- w 1 -*f —b-

— :
64
$
17TH
fcfes
AND
»-
-I =±
—
pro
i8th
mm
--
CENTURY MUSIC
5fe 35
&t 1 5E^
i 8*-
m Jr
&±
is etc.
-=f
S^S
The works of Handel abound with similar
passages. See, for example, in the " Messiah,"
" Comfort ye, My
people," " Ev'ry valley,"
"Thus saith the Lord of Hosts," "Behold the
Lamb of God," " The Trumpet shall sound,"
&c, &c. In Bach's "St. Matthew" Passion:
"Ach nun ist mein Jesus hin?" the bass part of
;
" Geduld, wenn mich falsche Zungen," " Erbarme

dich," " Komm, susses Kreuz," &c, &c. And try
the following examples from his clavier-music
Prelude in E^ minor from Book I. of the
" Forty-eight Preludes and Fugues " :
siptipîpii
or the Fugue in D major from the same work:
m :&*****-£.
mm 5^33 i^-gj. :tffi=g

:*z3at
^S* • s •-
m 1*3
And further, in the same Fugue :-
tfrhr^fiE
See also in the chapter on Ornaments the
example at page in.
SECTION II.
The alterations of rhythm to be considered here

are not made for the sake of expression they are ;
the consequence of imperfect notation, and their

interpretation is hardly ever doubtful. One finds
whole movements in ternary rhythms written in
— ,
66 i
binary measures :
% or C doing duty for ^
| for |, and \ for J J* is§. The figure J Js
either written J j J J, in which case the dot is
. .
robbed of part of its value, or JH J"^., when the

first quaver has to be double the length of the
second. The figure J"j~2 is then written as a
triplet.
Many movements in Corelli's sonatas give the
melody correctly, but the bass imperfectly. Here
are some examples :
Op. V. Sonata III. Cokelli.
^M
w 1— r-
Allegro.
Se
should be written thus :-
W*£
m
and later
£E=szte
i
S ^=£= ttmz
should be written thus :—

-b*
tt*
Sonata VIII. Giga CORELLI.
WF¥ ^m
should be written thus :
m^ :ifc
-&i
and later
-0L ^Tj*.
-£=r±
^BE (2—I—
Sonata X. Giga. CORELLI.
$&g=*^=3s*=t
izjs
*=t
rS3=]g!
W l "I •
and later :
WES.
E^ ^^=
should be written thus
PÊSI
?£==*
— ——

Couperin shows an instance of this incorrect
writing in the " Fanfare" of the " X Ordre " in his
second book of " Pieces de Clavecin." The note
is his :
Fanfare. Couperin.
Fort gayement. *
fy
mit
e :tHcq= £g etc.
m^ f.
-*
5S -* -* -
r*
- -
Although the values of the Treble do not seem

"
to fit with those of the Bass, it is customary to
write thus."
In the following Sonata of Handel, we find that
the crotchet unit of time in that movement is
divided in turn by two, three, and four, each of the
parts being actually of the same length in
performance :
Original :
Sonata IV. (for Oboe or Violin). G. F. Handel.

Larghetto.
3E
. .
* ft
|
3
mm ES .=^1 _^ =^_
rs^^^B P=*:xt
-fear-
i
g=fc#^=-fhl ^^ :
^ ££S S FiS
^^-7*- -$-
~-W=*-
i
31 CE
:?
=F fa-H £fc
^^
it
l^^j-ElaÊSgg d
tr
± =*sfe 4;grt-Q^dE
?SE3
$
-*-T»-
F=F -•-#-
^
Instances of this kind of writing are very frequent
in Bach. Here are two examples :
Courante from Partita I. J. S. Bach.
fiE=
B £^5
*-.. -*-
^gE| ps^z
hould be played thus :
!?3E
p3 ifc=P:
^—£^ *
1 y
SÊS 4
» r
— — — "
7o i
Concerto in D major, for Flute, Violin and Harpsichord. J. S. Bach.
Fl.
Allegro.
I—— ^3 3—
3_
M
iM I
should be played thus :
i it=P=
S^ ife4£J5dg
-?-1-
An amusing case is that of C. Ph. E. Bach, who,

in his "Wahre Art das Clavier zu spielen
explains this rule, and gives the following
example :
Tab. VI., Fig. XII.
should be
-rr=^--
$ played
He is apparently unconscious of the fact that his

explanation needs explaining, for he makes the
first quaver double the length of the second !
This method of writing survived until the

beginning of the 19th century. Adolphe Adam,
in his "Methode de Piano," Paris, An. XII.
(1805), gives the following :
Ad. Adam.
JTrrrgpl =t=t
W^
&=£
SECTION III.
§ It frequently happens, in old music, that

1.
notes of apparently equal value are to be performed

unevenly. Giulio Caccini, in the preface to his
"Nuove Musiche" (Venice, 1601) gives the following
examples :
Written.
tl 1— t=C_|
(8) (3)
Played.
E3ffi &E>
H-i-K-t-
Written.
(5)
Played.
The seventh paragraph of Frescobaldi's

" Avertimenti " (see page 6) is another instance of
this practice and the fact that he insists upon the
;
second note and not the first being dotted in such

passages, implies that the reverse way that is, to —
—
dot the first was in common use at the time.
— —

According to Frescobaldi's rule, the following
passage, which occurs near the end of the Toccata
secunda of his second book :
3==t
PP*
-^,^. £
S*
EP 1=
itti 3^^
should be played thus :
"3
Jean Rousseau, "Traite de la Viole," 1687,

speaking of the Mordent, which he .calls
Martellement, says :
" In Common Time, when one plays even quavers,

the martellement should be made on the first half
of a beat. . . .
" In Alia Breve Time

(§) on even crotchets, you
must make the martellement on the first half of
a beat. .
."
.
This does not in itself prove that notes of

apparently even value were generally played
unevenly. But it would not be natural to give
another interpretation of the passage; and taken
in conjunction with the following statements it
becomes very weighty.

Couperin, in the Table of Graces prefacing his
first book of Pieces, 1713, mentions a similar
practice when he describes the following example
thus :
" Slurs, in which the dots indicate that the

second note of each beat must be emphasised."
It should therefore be played : —
This is precisely the reverse of what a modern

player would do, for to him the slur indicates an
accent on the first note, whilst the dot on the
second, which lightens it, further confirms this
reading. But Couperin's precept is not open to
doubt. And a dot over a note at that time did not
mean a staccato. A dash was used for that purpose.
§ 2. It was more frequent to make the first
quaver, the accented one, the longest.
In the "Principes de la Flute Traversiere," &c,
by Hotteterre-le-Romain (Paris, 1707), we find this
at page 24 :
"It will be observed that quavers must not

always be played evenly, and that in certain
measures there must be a long and a short one;
this is regulated by the number. When it is even,
the first is to be made long, the second short, and
so forth. When it is an odd number, the contrary
— '

plan be followed. This is called to dot
is to '
(i.e., The measures in which this is most

pointer).
commonly done are those of two in a bar, the f
and the |."
Couperin alludes to the same thing when he
says in the passage already quoted " We write :
differently from what we play. We play as . . .
dotted several quavers following one another by

degrees,and yet we write them even."
In two pieces of Couperin's first book the two
ways of playing unevenly are contrasted with good
effect. They are: "La Badine" and "Les Vendan-
geuses." The beginning of the first one, given
below, will illustrate this point. In such cases not
only must one take care not to exaggerate the length
of the dots, but on the contrary to make them rather
short. Their rhythm should not be hard or too
precise. If the long note were double the length of
the short, as in a triplet J 3 Js or J\ J, the
unevenness should be sufficient :
" La Badine."
Legerement etflate. COUPERIN.
s ~
-I
£*
fet
i **t
=S»=
gpSP
-¥ ^w
mm
i^=g
=pt »=
1
fee
*»
» P5
etc.
W^ 1
should be played :
M£sd^=£ S_i 1_«.

±& w*
a=
ifSS
=p=1=
53BE
etc.
iit- *=
This uneven playing of passing-notes was so

universally understood that when even playing was
required the composer gave special directions to
that effect.
In the " Avertissement " prefacing the " Second
Livre de Pieces de Violes," by Marin Marais, the
"privilege" of which is dated 1692, we find the
following :
" Example.
"12 th Variations on La Follia: —
mrJi=3z
*=
*=*
" The dots which are above the notes not slurred
indicate that you must make all the notes equal,
instead of dwelling on the first and shortening the
second, in the usual way. And when there are no
— —

dots, in that kind of movement, you may still play
as if there were, for the style of the piece some-
times demands it naturally, as, for example, the
A llemandes, which have no need of this observation.
Ihave only marked these dots in such places as
are at all doubtful, and even in the figured basses."
The
phrase "above the notes not slurred" refers
about " the dots marked
to a preceding explanation
over or under slurred notes," which, he tells us,
indicate that " you must articulate all these notes,
~Jn one bow, as if they were played with different
bowings."
One should note also what he says about the
A llemandes, which are not subject to the general
rule of uneven playing.
This is confirmed by Couperin, who heads the
Allemande opening the "Second Ordre " of his
first book of Pieces by this direction "Not too :
slow and the semiquavers a very little dotted." He

;
obviously takes it for granted that in his other

A llemandes, in which there are no such directions,
the semiquavers will be played evenly.
In the third book of " Cantates Francoises," by
Clerambault, published at Paris, 1716, we find this
interesting direction :
" All the quavers with dots over them must be

even, the others uneven " :
Air gay et gracieux
I 3S t- zzem
£*
SEE £35— — t r-
B!E
-t
M*m zfzdzf
=p=f= =f=p=i=p=
f
-n~r
I I
fcS
JÎK etc.
^Ê gEEEEEEEE HZEZlf

^
In this piece we have uneven quavers in the
usual way, and even quavers specially marked.
They occur combined together in the 8th bar.
The last quaver in the bass, B, would be played
after the last quaver in the treble, which is also B.
Below will be found a list of directions from the
works of various composers, which now will be
readily understood by the reader :
—
Couperin. "Second Book of Pieces," 1716.
IQ 4me Ordre, first movement : Rondeau, Bruit
de Guerre, " Vivement, et les Croches egales."
In English, " Quickly, and the quavers even."
—
Couperin. "Fourth Book of Pieces," 1730.
20 eme Ordre. Air dans le gout Polonais,
" Vivement, Les notes egales et marquees."
" Quickly. The notes even and accented."
The notes in this piece have dots over them.
In the same book: Les Satires, "Gravement,
ferme, et poind" which means " Gravely, :
firm, and dotted," i.e., the quavers uneven.

— ;

Marin Marais.— "Pieces de Violes," Third Book,
171 7. Saillie du Caffe, " Petits coups d'archet
egaux." " Bowing short and equal." The
notes have dots over them. In the " Fourth
Book of Pieces," Le Labyrinthe, "Gayement,
Coups Egaux." " Merrily, even strokes."
The notes also have dots.
De Caix d'Hervelois. — de Violes," First
" Pieces
Book, c. 1710. First Prelude, second part:
" Vivement, nottes egales." In the " Second
Book of Pieces," Fantaisie, "pointe": i.e.,
"dotted," uneven quavers. This direction is
very useful, for the style of the piece might
induce one to play evenly. In the third book,
1736: Sarabande, page 5, " Croches egales."
Rameau. —" Pieces de Clavecin avec une Table
pour les Agremens." Paris, 1736, page 16:
Les Niais de Sologne, "nottes egales."
Mondonville, Op. 5. — " Pieces de Clavecin avec
Voix ou Violon," c. 1740, page 8: "nottes
egales, &c, &c.
The instructions given by Quantz on this
subject are most precise and complete. They
should be carefully studied. The following
paragraph has already been partly quoted. It
is worth while to repeat it and complete it here :
Chap, xi., § 12: " You must, in your execution,

know how to make -a difference between capital
and passing-notes. Capital notes must always, if
possible, be more emphasized than passing ones.
According to this rule, in pieces of moderate
movement, or even in the A dagio, the shorter notes
should be played somewhat unequally, although
to the sight they appear to be of the same value
so that you must, in each figure, dwell on such

notes as come on the beats, namely the first, third,
fifth, and seventh, more than on the passingxmes,
which are the second, fourth, sixth and eighth
you should not however hold them as long as if
they were dotted. By these shorter notes I
understand the crotchets in a §, the quavers in a %,
the semiquavers in a |, the quavers in a (£, the
semiquavers in a |. This however does not take
place when these notes are mixed with figures of
notes quicker still, or half their value, for then it
is these quicker notes which should be played
unevenly. If, for instance, one played the semi-

quavers in the following example slowly in the
same value, their expression would not be as
agreeable as if one stayed a little longer on the
first and third of the groups of four, and gave
them a slightly louder tone than the second and
fourth :
" But one must except from this rule, rapid

passages, in a quick measure, where the time does
not allow to play them unevenly, and one can only
accent the first of every four. One also excepts
all passages which singers must execute quickly
and not slurred ; for, as each note in such passages
for the voice must be made distinct, and marked
by a movement of the throat, there is no room for
unevenness. Finally, one must except all notes
marked with dots or dashes. You should also
make the same exception when several notes follow
—

one another upon the same sound, or when there is
a tie over notes the number of which exceeds two
— namely four, six or eight and lastly about
quavers in Jiggs (Gigues). All these must be
equal, the one no longer than the other."
Chap, xvii., § ii. " : To render with
. . .
elegance, in a slow movement, such semiquavers

as are found in the example below, one must
always give more importance, as well for duration
as for strength, to the first of the two than to the
one following, and here the note B, in the third
part of the bar, should be played almost as if
there were a dot behind it " : —
(*)
v
3
ggffte^ggi
Thus (a) should come out approximately as given
at (b).
There is one more passage in Quantz relating to

this subject; it is in Chap, xii., § 12.
The author, explaining how the Allegro should
be played, says :
"As to the short rests which are found in the

place of the principal notes on the accented beat,
you must take care not to play the notes which
follow before their time for example, when out of
;
four semiquavers the first is a rest, you should

wait further half as long again as the written value
of the rest, because the following note should be
shorter than the first. The same should be done
with regard to demisemiquavers."
The above brings forward no new fact, but
makes it plain that in cases where the first note,
in passages requiring uneven playing, is replaced

by a rest, the duration of that rest must be
augmented, as should be that of the note of .which
it takes the place.
Dom Bedos, in the book already mentioned at

page i, treats most clearly of this matter, and
moreover explains how some notes are "held"
and others only " touched." Here is the passage
(page 60 1, § iv.) :
" Of the Distinction in First and Second for the
Quavers and sometimes for the Crotchets.
" 1422.In the movements in 2, 3 and 4 beats,

the quavers are accented in twos, and distinguished
in first and second : this distinction also takes
place sometimes for the crotchets. It is as
essential to the pricking upon the cylinder as to
the execution. The two quavers together make
the total value of a crotchet; the one which
is supposed to hold the first half of the
crotchet is called first quaver, and the one
which takes the second half second quaver : the
first is generally held, and the second is always
touched ; there is only one case when the first
ceases to be held, it is when it happens to be the
same note as the second, as they can then be more
clearly detached.
" This distinction in first and second can also
take place with the semiquavers of a | in a
moderate tempo, for the reason I gave in § 3.
The crotchets also are sometimes liable to this
distinction. ..."
§ v.
" Of the Inequality of Quavers.
" 1423. After the distinction we have just made

of the quavers in first and second, it is essential to
remark upon their inequality in most movements.
" Almost always the first are longer, and the
second shorter. I except however the movements
where they are marked from 3 to 3, as in the
I and I but in
: the movements where they are
marked from 2 to 2, it is rare that they be equal.
"
This must vary according to the kind
inequality
of expression of the air in a merry tune, it must
;
be more marked than in a graceful and tender air,

in a march than in a minuet there is however
;
many a minuet in which the inequality is as much

marked as in a march.
" Taste, rather the practice of
or pricking,' '
will make In general, whatever

this difference felt.
may be this difference between the first and the
second, the first are the longest, and the second the
shortest, in such a way that the two together do
not exceed the value of the crotchet they represent.
" There are also many cases where the crotchets
are unequal, as well as the semiquavers the first ;
then becoming longer and the second shorter; but

as this degree of inequality varies according to the
kind of expression suitable to the pieces of music,
the pricker
'
will make a special study of it,
'
especially when it is a case of catching the

manner of a composer one will see later several
:
detailed examples of this in La Romance de '
M r
Balbastre.' " This Romance is given in the
.
Appendix to the present book.

The Pere Engramelle, in the " Tonotechnie,"

mentioned on page 43, also treats of the inequality
of notes in a manner so thorough and scientific as
to leave no doubt upon any aspect of it.
Page 32 " There are cases where this difference
:
is one-half, so that you must play the first as
if they were dotted crotchets, and the second

semiquavers others where the difference is one-
;
third, as if the first were worth two-thirds of a

crotchet, and the second the other third; others
again, where this difference, less noticeable, must
be as 3 to 2, so that the first will be worth three-
fifths of a crotchet and the second two-fifths."
Page 33 " :I have observed in pricking
. . .
cylinders that there are many Marches, among

others that of '
Le Roi de Prusse,' where the
difference between the first and the second is as
3 to 1. In certain Menuets, among others the petit
menuet de la Trompette, the difference is 2 to 1 ;
lastly, in many menuets, the difference is less

marked, as 3 to 2, or 7 to 5."
Page 230 " You must observe that all I say
:
upon the inequality of quavers, is only to make

you appreciate those inequalities for there ;
are many places where they vary in the same

air; it is left to fine taste to appreciate this
variety in these inequalities. few experiments A
will make you find the good, and the best,
either for the equality or the inequalities; you
will see that a little more or less inequality in
the quavers alters considerably the expression of
an air."
The practical application of these principles has
far-reaching consequences upon the effect of many
familiar pieces. The depth of expression it adds
to certain phrases is wonderful. At the same time,
it removes a certain heaviness and stiffness, as
becomes apparent the moment the right expression

is understood.
Many well-known numbers in the " Messiah " can
serve as examples. See the 4th, 5th, and 6th bars
in " Ev'ry valley shall be exalted" the semiquavers
;
in " But who may abide the day of His coming ? " ;
the semiquavers in " He was despised " the semi- ;
quavers in " Behold and see," which come on the

words " and see " and " sorrow " (in the two
places in this air where the second violin and the
viola answer the voice, Handel has written the
instrumental parts accurately, but the voice part in
the conventional way) the semiquavers in " But
;
Thou didst not leave " the quavers in " If God is

;
for us," &c.

In Bach's " St. Matthew " Passion there are still
more numerous cases for the application of this
rule. But the reader will find them out. This
section shall end with two instrumental extracts
from Bach. The first is the Sarabande from the
sixth Suite for a five-stringed Violoncello, which is
popular through arrangements for all sorts of
instruments. The original isand a tran-
given,
scription for keyboard with the rhythm written
out as it should sound, or thereabouts ; for it must
be remembered that this lengthening and shortening
of notes is not bound to mathematical divisions of
time. It is perhaps on account of this intended
freedom in the execution that the composers did
not write it down, as it would thus have assumed

too stiff an appearance :
Sarabande. j. s. Bach.
m ^§
li^
2z
i -XtS:
-&---
I
kM -ct
-ct
-e-
m m * ^=t
-m
ze^gp
-Qr-r
J.J.-J j^^-î
ate! -yj-
Transcription by A. D.
mfez -&1--&-
=fc
32t -*-&-
I
< 1 r
^TO -<-©— ig=
?3=
331
rcJ--
I OITj^ ^z ^rTj.^-gE^
PR^BT^-dr-*
t=
-J-
:z±: rez;
=g-
-rf
12^- ^ 12^ ,&

ae -efc
l?2^'
IZ2I
—
86 i
Here follows another example the Sarabande —
from the "Suite Francaise " No. i, in D minor.
This piece would be still more beautiful, were the
proper ornaments added to it. But the question
of ornaments must not be anticipated :
Sarabande. Original Text. J. S. Bach.
$m=^0^m
-£j-
MEM
ES
£eS
w^ m I
-4-4-
-+p
^
a
HF m *=*
I
:
f=f=r i i
m^ms^mm
i^
^&E f=f=
zcSz
The same Sarabande. Proposed reading by A. D.
fg g^#lSl 4=
-^ fef
fef^feî^F^
v>
immrnmi
?
a r
f=
88
CHAPTER IV.
ORNAMENTATION.
In modern music the ornamentation is practically
all incorporated with the text. In the Old Music
the ornamentation is sometimes left out altogether,
or indicated more or less completely by means of
conventional signs. The composer in either case
had prepared his music for the ornaments if we ;
do not use them we are violating his intentions just

as much as if we altered his text. It is not even a
question whether we like them or not, or whether
they are in or out of fashion they form an
;
integral part of the music. To omit them is

just as barbarous as taking off the exuberant
decoration of flamboyant Gothic architecture
under the pretext that one prefers a simpler
style. The ornamentation alters the melody,
rhythm, and harmony of the music. Its study
is, therefore, indispensable. Like everything in
Art, and perhaps more than most things, it
has been subject to " modes and fashions " ; it
would not be right, therefore, to use for a certain

ORNAMENTATION 89
piece of music the ornamentation belonging to a
different style.
It seems impossible to classify the ornaments
logically ;there are too many combinations and
crosses between the various kinds. Their names,
moreover, are a great source of confusion, the
same name being often applied to different
ornaments, and the same ornament appearing
under several names. Weshall use the best
understood name, and give its principal English
and foreign synonyms. Besides, we shall treat
of only one kind under each several heading,
considering the thing itself rather than the name.
It is hoped in this way to minimise confusion.
Ch. Ph. E. Bach, in his " Versuch iiber die
wahre Art das Clavier zu spielen," Berlin, 1753,
has a valuable Introduction to the part treating of
ornaments. Weshall quote here some of its most
interesting points.
" § 1. It is not likely that anybody could
question the necessity of ornaments. They are
found everywhere in music, and are not only
useful, but indispensable. They connect the
notes they give them life. They emphasise them,
;
and besides giving accent and meaning they render

them grateful they illustrate the sentiments, be
;
they sad or merry, and take an important part in

the general effect. They give to the player an
opportunity to show off his technical skill and
powers of expression. A mediocre composition
can be made attractive by their aid, and the best
melody without them may seem obscure and
meaningless.
" § 2. But in proportion with their usefulness
and beauty when properly applied, can they do
:
go 17TH AND i8th CENTURY MUSIC

harm when the wrong ornaments are employed, or
their application is not well controlled.
§ 3. Therefore we should commend
" those who
clearly mark all the ornaments they intend in their
pieces, instead of leaving them to the discretion of
a possibly incompetent performer.
§ 4. And here must we give due praise to
"
those French composers who have carefully
indicated in their pieces all that is needful for
their correct interpretation. Some of the greatest
masters of Germany have done the same, though,
perhaps not so thoroughly as the French ....
" § 8. Those who have skill enough may
introduce more ornaments than we indicate but;
they must take care that the meaning and

expression of the piece are not affected thereby.
It must be understood that fewer graces
should be used in pieces intended to express
sadness, or innocence, than if other sentiments
were involved. A man can combine the art of
singing upon his instrument with such effects
as are proper to instrumental music, and thus
stimulate and keep the attention of the listener
by constant variety. This can be done without
confusing the vocal and instrumental styles. If
the ornaments used are chosen with taste, there
is no need to trouble whether the passage be
singable or not.
"
§ 9. In this matter, above all things there must
be no exaggeration. The use of graces must not
go too far. It is with music as with architecture
the finest building may be overloaded with
ornamentation, like a dish which can be spoiled
by too much spice. Many notes are good enough
in themselves and need no ornaments the latter
;
ORNAMENTATION gi
ought only to be used on notes requiring special

stress and prominence. If all the words of a
discourse were equally emphasised, continual
monotony would be the result
" § ii. . .Pieces in which the ornaments are
.
indicated do not give any trouble but when there

;
are few or no signs, the piece must be ornamented

according to its proper style
" § 13. This matter is so intricate that one
should 'as much as possible develop the ear by
carefully listening to good music, and above all
obtain a thorough knowledge of harmony
14. The singers as well as instrumentists,
" §
if they want to render their music properly must
use many of the same ornaments as '
clavier
players; but they have not taken the trouble to
put order in this matter. They indicate a variety
of graces by the help of few signs and give trouble
to themselves in that way."
An exception should be made in favour of the
French viola da gamba composers such as Marin
Marais, the Forquerays, De Caix d'Hervelois and
others who have left us the most perfect texts
imaginable. But the violinists, Senaille, Leclair,
&c, mostly use only one sign, a little cross or
something such, which has to do duty for
everything. That they had a strong prejudice
against a carefully marked text is proved by the
fact that when harpsichord players, like Rameau in
his " Concerts en Trio," used a violin or flute, the
same phrase which appears carefully ornamented
for the harpsichord is left with only a few crosses
for the other parts. In the " Pieces de Clavecin
en Sonates avec accompagnement de Violon par
Mondonville," Op. 3 (c. 1740), the violin part is
— ——

treated in that way; but the author has added
the following note :
" The ornaments of the violin must be treated

like those of the harpsichord."
In the " Pieces de Clavecin avec Voix ou Violon,"
Op. 5, published a few years later, the ornaments
of the voice or violin are marked with the same
precise care as those of the harpsichord. The
author had probably repented of his former lax
practice.
Two more quotations from Quantz, and we shall
begin our study of the various ornaments in detail:
" § 1 6. As the French masters were so admirable
in their way of playing ornaments and writing them,
it is regrettable that people should begin to leave
them aside. The result is that the signs so well

known formerly are becoming strange, even in
clavier pieces."
We might leave off here, for indeed this points
to the beginning of the end, as far as ornaments
are concerned !Still, the following quotation must
be given, on account of its extreme importance :
" § 28. The fact that most of my

examples occur
for the right hand does not mean that the left
should not have its fair share of them I advise
;
rather that all ornaments should be practised by

both hands so that they may be played with the
same ease and finish. Ornaments occur in the
bass as well as in the treble. Moreover, the
player is bound to ornament all imitative phrases
alike, wherever they occur. The left hand must
therefore be well practised to be able to do
effectively all sorts of ornaments. Otherwise it
would be better to have none at all, for they lose
all their beauty when badly played."
ORNAMENTATION 93
SECTION I.
The Appoggiatura.
(Old English : Forefall, Backfall, Beat, Half-Fall.

French : Appoggiature, Port-de- Voix. Old French
Cheute, Chute, Coule, Accent. Italian Appoggiatura, :
Portamento. German Vorschlag, A ccent steigend,

:
Accent fallend.)
The appoggiatura is a very important ornament
affecting both the melody and harmony. It
originated with the lute-players, and was one of
their favourite graces. Here are Thomas Mace's
directions for its performance :
Page 104. " The Back-fall Explained.

"A Back-fall, only Thus viz. Let your Note
is :
be what it must 1st partake of the Tone of

will ; It
another Note, or Half-note above it, before it sound,
" As for example.
" Suppose I would Back-fall a, upon the Treble
String, then I must first stop c, upon the same
String, and strike it, as if I did absolutely intend
c (only) should Sound yet so soon as I have so ;
struck c, I must, with the stopping finger (only)

cause the a, to sound, by taking it off in a kind of
a Twitch, so that the Letter a, may sound, (by
reason of that Twitch, or Falling back) presently
after the letter c is struck. ..."
Mace, of course, employs the language of the
lute tablature. As some might not be familiar
with it, it may be well to explain that a means
the open string, whatever its tuning, and c the
second fret. As the frets are a semitone apart,
there is a distance of a whole-tone between a and c.
— — —
a in that case is the G of the treble clef,
and thec A above it. The result of Mace's

explanations may therefore be transcribed thus :
=£=}
EE
=fe
It is a short appoggiatura from above ; the

auxiliary note comes on the beat, and it is
accented.
The Half-Fall is thus explained :
" The Half-Fall is ever from a Half-Note

beneath, and is performed by striking that
Half-Note first but so soon as that is struck, you
;
must readily Clap down the True Note, (with the

proper finger, standing ready) without any further
striking. Explained thus. Suppose I would make
a Half-Fall to upon the Treble (or any other
/,
string) I must place a Finger in e upon the same
String, and absolutely strike e, as if nothing else were
intended ; but so soon as e has given its perfect sound,
my next Finger, must fall smartly into /; so that /
may Sound strongly, only by that Fall; which
willcause a Pritty, Neat, and Soft Sound, without
any other striking, and this is the Half-fall."
This translated gives us :
1^1
It is an appoggiatura from below, the auxiliary
note on the beat, and stronger than the true note,
for it is impossible to make a sound as strong, with
the finger of the left hand alone falling on the
ORNAMENTATION 95
string, as when the note is plucked by the right

hand. Guitar players will understand this.
Moreover, the auxiliary note had to be short,
or else the vibrations of the string might have
stopped by the time the next finger fell upon it, in
which case the true note would hardly be audible.
But with the voice and many instruments it was
possible to lengthen the auxiliary note at will,
and as the effect thus produced was found pleasing,
the appoggiatura grew at the expense of the main
note until it took one-half, two-thirds, and even the
whole of its value.
In Bach's time the short appoggiatura was
rarely used. It came back into fashion with
the next generation. In the igth century the
long appoggiatura had become almost forgotten.
Nowadays the majority of musicians still
play all appoggiature short and mostly before

their time, to the great detriment of the music. A
general survey of the question, chronological as far
as possible, is the only way to bring light on a point
the importance of which could hardly be over-
estimated.
Praetorius, in his " Syntagma Musicum," third
volume, published at Wolffenbiittel in 1619, gives
at page 233 a great many ornaments which he calls
"Accents" among which are the following true
appoggiature :
ir W Rftpfc
i
— : — —:
g6 17TH AND i8th CENTURY MUSIC

The " black semibreves " being the sign of triple
time, in our notation it would come to this :
i w. p^ fc;
w o • ^
There is no sign given for the appoggiatura it ;
is ascending, and takes one-third of the value of the

main note.
was left to the player.
Its introduction
In Playford's " Introduction to the Skill of
Music," first edition, 1654, the table of " Graces
proper to the Viol or Violin " gives appoggiature
from below and above. The first is called "Beat,"
the second " Back-fall." It will be remembered
that Mace calls the first " Half-fall," and gives the
name of " Beat " to another ornament. This is the
sort of confusion we shall find over and over again
all through the nomenclature of ornaments.
Here is Playford's diagram :
A Beat, Explan A Backfall, Explan
j=^=^ :p*= rsrqc: ^

ifc=*=
The appoggiatura is played on the beat, and

takes one-quarter of the value of the main note.
In Christopher Simpson's " Division Viol,"
published 1659, there is a table of graces with the
following note :
" For these, I am obliged to the ever famous

Charles Colman, Doctor in Musick."
ORNAMENTATION 97
Dr. Colman was a musician of repute but no ;
more so than Christopher Simpson. Why he

should have had to advise Simpson on such a
subject remains a mystery.
The table being an exact reproduction of that
given in Playford, except that the examples are
in the alto clef instead of the treble, we need say
no more about it.
Matthew Locke's
In " Melothesia," published in
!673, we find :
The Fore-fall —
The Back-fall
: . : ^ . No
indications are given for their performance.
In PurcelPs " Lessons," &c, 1696, the appoggia-
ture are indicated thus :
" A :
Fore-fall " gjJEE " explain'd :
"
=^§EE
" A Back-fall " : ^= " explain'd :
"
The names and signs are the same as Matthew

Locke's the execution agrees with Playford's,
;
Dr. Colman's, and Christopher Simpson's. No

doubt John Jenkins, William Lawes, Dr. Blow, and
other English composers of the second half of the
17th century followed the same practice.
In J. C. de Chambonnieres's " Pieces de
Clavecin," First Book (Paris, 1670) :
*
Port de voix.
i
•

the cross [ + ] used for the appoggiatura is
the sign commonly used by other composers of
the end of the 17th and all the 18th century for
a trill, or indiscriminately for all sorts of ornaments.
Hence confusion might easily arise. The two
semiquavers B which form the appoggiatura make
half the value of the principal note, thereby reduced
to half its value. The repetition of the auxiliary
note B is unusual. The engraved text is so clear
that the existence of a mistake could hardly be
supposed. Chambonnieres uses the appoggiatura
sign much more rarely than the other signs, and
wherever it is marked its explanation as given
above sounds well. However, the point is open to
question.
De Machy, " Pieces de Violle en Tablature "
(Paris, 1685), says: —
" The port-de-voix which is called cheute on
the Lute and other Instruments is made by
anticipation from one note to another."
The cheute of D'Anglebert, 1689, explained below,
is a true appoggiatura, from below or above;
but it is not made by anticipation. It is on the
contrary clearly marked on the beat, and as part of
the note to which it belongs.
There seem to have been at all times people
who anticipated the ornaments, thus making them
out of the note preceding the one to which they
belonged. In our own time, it is the immense
majority who do so. The best composers, the great
masters, never did it; they frequently protested
against it. And the reason is easy to understand.
The auxiliary note is nearly always a discord,
which when used with taste and emphasised on the
beat with the Harmony, often produces rich and
ORNAMENTATION 99
surprising effects; chords, in fact, which the
composers would not have dared to write out
plainly. The anticipation of the appoggiatura
destroys all this.
Appoggiature not indicated by any sign are very
frequently used as preparation to a trill or a
mordent, in the first case from above, in the
second from below. They come on the beat,
and take from one-quarter to two-thirds of the
value of the main note. (See section " Compound
Ornaments.")
Marin Marais, in his " Pieces a Deux Violes,"
Paris, 1686, considers it so clear that shakes
must be prepared by appoggiature of half their
value that he indicates in his figured bass the chord
formed by the appoggiature with the bass. See
the following examples. (The comma after a note
means a trill the cross before the note a mordent,
;
and the wavy line [**v] a vibrato. The implied

appoggiature in question occur in the fourth and
last bars) :
Marin Marais, Sarabande from Second Suite

fortwo Viole da Gamba and Bass :
Viola da
Gamba I.
Viola da
Gamba II.
Basso
Continuo.
#
ioo 17TH AND i8th CENTURY MUSIC

EIEE
-'-
^S^g rf—
^ 4
|S
^s
«£
??-*—*- i=zp_
^&
i-l—»—"^F $EExx=\
S£ iiÊ^
6 6|_ # 7 4 #
^S =t=B
The harmony indicated by the figures is
«{bar 4)
I i=f
but the melody of the two Viols is written thus :-
i
1=
j ^
^f# n=
ORNAMENTATION IOI
It would make a horrible confusion with the

accompaniment if the Viols did not play thus :
tr
1=
P^ 33EB
Jean Henry D'Anglebert, in his "Pieces de

Clavecin " (Paris, 1689), gives a " Marque des
Agremens et leur signification," from which the
following examples are taken :
§ +=&£:
Cheute ou port de
L ^
~ ,
En "»«a«»i".
,
descendant,
voix en raontant.
fe
This is the appoggiatura, upwards and downwards,
in all its perfection.
In Francois Couperin's " Pieces de Clavecin,"
LivreP1, (Paris, 1713), "Explication des Agremens,
et des Signes," we find this :
s ~2=¥^
$ 3E£E£ =t
Port de voix
simple.
m Port de voix
double.
m
im
*=t
=t
Effet.
£ 33E pM 5P5?F
Effet.
i BE
Port de voix
coulee.
! —
Unfortunately, Couperin is not logical ; what he
calls " Port de voix simple " is a port de voix
combined with a pince or mordent, of which
latter this |>] is the sign ; and it is the pince
which is simple, not the appoggiatura. In the
" Port de voix double " it is the pince which is
double
On the other hand his " Port de voix coulee " is
a true, simple, upward appoggiatura it is " coule,"
;
no doubt {i.e., slurred, for all appoggiature must be

slurred). (The second " e " of " coulee " ought not
to be there; it was ungrammatical in 171 3, just
as it is at present.) Another serious fault with
Couperin is that his " Explications " are always
given in small notes, the values of which are
uncertain.
Here are more details from the " Methode " he
published in 17 17 (already cited) :
Page 22 :
" The auxiliary note of a port de voix,
or of a coule, must strike with the Harmony,
that is to say, in the time that ought to be given to
the note which follows it."
And again, page 19 " It is the value of the
:
notes which should, in general, determine the length

of the pinces-doubles, the ports-de-voix doubles, and
of the tr emblements."
This implies that his ports-de-voix i.e., appoggia-
,
ture, have a proportionate relation with the value

of the note to which they belong but he omits to
;
tell us what that proportion is.

The point is, fortunately, better treated by his
contemporaries — D'Anglebert, already quoted, and
Rameau, to follow.
John Sebastian Bach wrote in 1720 a book of
instruction for his son, Wilhelm Friedemann. It
ORNAMENTATION 103
is known as " Clavier-Biichlein

vor Wilhelm
Friedemann Bach." There is in it an "Explication
showing the Signs, and how the various Manieren
can be nicely played." (Manieren is the general
name in German for Ornaments.)
Here follows the appoggiatura and its explana-
tion :
B Accent
steigend.
3=
Accent
fallend.
im^ ±=t
Bach it "Accent," a very good name for it,
calls
since does accent the music more effectively
it
perhaps than anything else could. "Steigend"

and "fallend " mean, respectively, rising and
falling. The above demonstrates that Bach's
appoggiature are to be played on the beat, and
that they take half the value of the note to which
they belong. The rule is clear, and we possess no
other instruction from Bach on the point. Moreover,
it agrees with the practice of his contemporaries.
These being the only examples he chose to write

for the instruction of his son, it follows that they
are representative of the majority of cases to be
found in his music and so it proves. The reader
;
can find plenty of examples for himself all through

Bach's works. Additional knowledge is, however,
needed to meet the cases in which this rule
cannot apply.
Besides the short curved line already seen, Bach
has two other ways to indicate the appoggiatura:
a double curve, from below or above, ^J -nJ
e
104 i7 TH AND i8th CENTURY MUSIC
or small notes of various values — semiquavers,
quavers or crotchets. These indistinctively indicate
appoggiature, in most cases of half the value of the
note to which they belong, but also of longer or
shorter duration, or even very short ones, as the case
may be. It being of immense importance for the
right expression of Bach's music to be able to
distinguish between these, we shall try to clear the
point with the assistance of Bach's contemporary,
Joachim Quantz, whose precepts, here condensed
into rules, will help us materially.
1. The appoggiatura to a dotted note takes two-
thirds of its value, the principal note coming in the
time of the dot.
2. In | time, an appoggiatura to a dotted minim
tied to another note takes all the value of the first
note, the principal note coming in the time of the
second. In § time the same rule applies to a
dotted crotchet tied to another note.
3. An appoggiatura to a note followed by a rest
takes the whole value of that note ; the principal
note is played in the time of the rest.
4. An appoggiatura between two notes of the
same pitch must be played very short, on the
beat.
5. An appoggiatura to a note of the shortest
value used in the piece or passage where it occurs
must be played very short.
6. An appoggiatura to a note forming a discord
with the bass, augmented fourth, diminished fifth,
seventh, second, &c, must be played very short
or else the discord will be changed into a concord,
and the harmony spoiled.
(A translation of the original wording, with
further details, will be found later.)
ORNAMENTATION 105
The following examples show the application

of these rules. The text used is that of the
Bach Gesellschaft.
Rule 1. " Suite Francaise " No. 1, Menuet I. :
eeSS
pjpfc C3?
^m
s ik
-P*-
Execution.
1. 2.
^&=+ ê— *=
^^= ^fe
*
v3=-
The first appoggiatura follows Bach's only rule,
the second our Rule 1.
Sonata in E major for Violin alone, Menuet I.:
*jA*1
I 4^-T-
^ 4=**.
Execution.
"Das wohltemperirte Klavier," vol. ii., Fugue

XV.:—
Execution.
J7
n
^
#.,._^.^-.
i
-»^ -j,-
I —

Another beautiful example exists in the
introduction to the quartet and chorus " So ist
mein Jesus nun," in the second part of the
" St. Matthew " Passion here it is ;
:
:fc
i Ob. I. Fl. I.
/-L*
/*"
Violins.
I 3=5
#*-
=3^
w s
p-
Execution.
I ^Z =t=r
fep3=^ 3^
t*
* hi
JUJ-
*== .-£
i
i ^ _#p=fc==^:f
=3= F =['
J^fi
*^lg
-
^=t
i ^—*—a 1—*
— —
h
-* «-U-j 1
i=4^= M
1 1
=*=*=4
Execution. |v .
__
j—4
Ê&^£t? Me 5S=t
"E=r
1—
1=1=1= 1
=«=t z*=«b
ORNAMENTATION 107
Rule 2. " Das wohltemperirte Klavier," vol. L,

Pra^ludium IV. :
a^
fat
£î: î=*=Pffc: f It
ffite _—-
»— —^ — —» ^ —=»*
i
w
+Mm?t^
m
pai
*frA&
-P F-
^^
Execution.
=t
itesiisî
litet 22 m?^
—
AND CENTURY MUSIC
proe
io8 17TH i8th
4ifefiE=H^ 1 1,
Hi*
^jûMÂ ^-_
§31 'ns>~-
>
pfî f
kh=h
F-
H$teg
(The last bar of the above example will also serve
as illustration for Rule 5.)
Rule 3. " Das wdhltemperirte Klavier," vol. ii.,
Praeludium VII. :
Im
t=*: £b
z3B
it
f^f
-^T^H*
tfe^^£g^33ÊSB
SpE 5^ Efc±
zfcafc
3=2
£
- • r r
@^
£fcSE
-*i— ^— fc=*i— i== ?
fi
:
3=3: =E*
t?
ORNAMENTATION 109
Execution.
-j :=S
t=*=
:3=± S:
fjjr^K s
r
--
âfez^dt
=^ E ^-1-H- £ ±z£=s=a=a:
This exquisite but unfortunate Prelude has been

tortured by editors in all sorts of ways some of ;
them felt that the appoggiatura ought to be long,

but they did not know how to work it out. It has
been done thus :
The case, however, is of the simplest. Would

there were no more troublesome in Bach !
One shudders to think that had the " Preislied"

from Wagner's " Meistersinger " been written in
the 1 8th century, there would be barbarians at the
present time who would play it thus :
^
i 3 ^
—
no i 7 th AND i8th CENTURY MUSIC
Rule 4. Matthew " Passion, Part II., Aria
" St.
for alto, " Erbarme dich," Violino solo part:
N.B.
iS^steEiSS^
rifc=E
The appoggiatura at N.B. must be played on

the beat, and very short. This Aria also contains
many characteristic cases of long appoggiature.
In the same work the soprano Aria, " Aus
Liebe," has the following :
—
Flauto traverse N.B
Oboe da Caccia I. & II.
-A- -|
mI-t a
1
-1
1E£
$ rr r-FP*i 1 r
The appoggiatura at N.B. must be played very

short, for the ornament which precedes it does not
alter the fact that the note E is practically before
and after it. The appoggiatura E in the next bar
must be played long, as a crotchet, in the usual
way. The appoggiatura B in the last bar of this
ORNAMENTATION in
example could not be held until the semiquaver
rest which follows the principal note, as it should
be according to Rule 3, for the harmony would be
spoiled thereby. It should be done as a quaver,
as thus the plaintive expression of the passage will
be preserved.
Rule 5. See the last bar of the example given
for Rule 2.
Rule 6. " Das wohltemperirte Klavier," vol. ii.
Praeludium XIII:—
B
Execution.
gH§i^
(i)
Mil ^?
*=?±u
—•f-
5=*=r^lEH
sgi Segue.
ii2 17th AND i8th CENTURY MUSIC
Execution.
fgg^^^^^gf
^S5p M=m m^ tw4
(14) ] (15)
u.
u, Execution.
ORNAMENTATION 113
The first appoggiatura, bar 1, follows Rule 1.

The appoggiatura in bar 15 follows the present
Rule, No. 6. The BJf principal note forms an
augmented fourth with the bass the appoggiatura
;
CJF would turn it into a perfect fifth and spoil the

harmony. It must therefore be short. The same
remark applies to bar 43 the interesting harmony
;
which a long appoggiatura would spoil is the

augmented second B Cx. — In the next bar,
number 44, the two appoggiature are subject to
Rule 1.
Although the rules given above are sufficient to
solve most appoggiature to be found in Bach's
music, still cases will occur where the spirit rather
than the letter of the rule must be sought, as its
strict application would be unsatisfactory, or even
impossible. Sometimes, the ornamented note is so
long that were one-half of it given to the appoggia-
tura, the sound of the latter would have died out
before the end, at least upon a clavichord or
harpsichord, and obviously it could not be slurred
into the principal note. Or again, the harmony
might have changed so that the principal note
would be meaningless.
A few examples will illustrate this :
In the opening of the " Loure " from the fifth

" Suite Francaise," the first appoggiatura, according
to Rule 2, should be held the whole time of the
dotted minim to which it belongs, its resolution
coming in the time of the following note to which
the ornamented note is tied. But the complications
brought in by the bass, itself ornamented,
—
ii 4 I7 TH and i8th CENTURY MUSIC

render this impossible. In this case, however,
one need not look far for the correct solution.
The bass part starts in imitation of the treble,
and by reason of the sequel the corresponding
ornamented note is turned into a dotted crotchet,
the appoggiatura to which, according to Rule i,
should have the value of a crotchet. As both
appoggiature must be played alike to carry out
the imitation, and the second, for obvious reasons,
cannot be made like the first, the first must then
be made like the second, and played as a crotchet.
And, played thus, this appoggiatura sounds long,
as it should for it is long by comparison with the
;
notes that precede it.

The effect of length is further emphasised
by the shortening of the quavers which is impera-
tive in that kind of measure, as explained in
Chapter III., page 56.
" Loure," from the fifth " Suite Francaise " :
:*^±
$ E& '-&— I
ia ssi
^
ORNAMENTATION "5
Execution.
I s w$^m
**- «St
a-^— t*— : =g ^_ if
Hp3^
P
^ ¥
-^—m—
=3zgz
*
The next example is from Prseludium XVIII.,
vol. ii., of "
Das wohltemperirte Klavier."
The first appoggiatura in bar 2 would fall under
Rule 3. the principal note would thus come in the
time of the rest ; but the resulting harmony would be
impossible. The second appoggiatura in the same
bar is an ordinary one of half the value of the main
note; the nature of the passage makes it obvious that
both appoggiature should produce the same rhyth-
mical effect. The first must therefore be treated like
the second. A positive proof that this is right is
found at bars 44 and 45, where the harmony intended
by Bach could not have been clearly expressed by
appoggiature, and the passage appears written out
in full. The slurs, which are original, leave no
doubt as to the composer's intention :
«1 s ^fSS^Sî at
(l)
zgjzzzt
-*-»-
I
n6 17TH AND i8th CENTURY MUSIC
HV-£
(2) etc.
4t jl. .*-
w^=w=±m^-^4—tU-0-t
*4=E£ =t
.#. j^.
fe*
Execution.
F*=s=^ 5=5
!A
*%#= =j*±^|
i :x*;
ss * -»«* F-=
-*-»-
*A
liPgÊ E*=SE
i etc.
.#. _^_ _|B. ^>- _^_ _«. _^_
rp=t=r*=(z
ls=£±dE
ti =£EB
(42) (43)
_«. _*_ .«_ _*_ _£_ _B_ _^_ .^
P^Ê^Sfcyg
1 !
(44)
gjgte^^ -"*=t*
3CT=P:
t=P4
ORNAMENTATION 117
etc.
The Allegro which follows the long passage in

Arpeggios in Praeludium III. from the same book
contains a series of appoggiature which would
either fall under Rule 2 (for this | is in reality a
§)
or under Rule 1, if bar 6 is taken as a pattern,
but are independent of either. At bar 3 the
appoggiatura must be a quaver, or else the fourth
Cfi— F# would have no resolution. All the
appoggiature must be treated alike to carry on
the imitations they must therefore be all of the
;
length of a quaver. They are quite satisfactory

thus treated the effect of length is again produced
;
by contrast with the preceding semiquavers :
^^ Allegro.
-*z2j*
i*t^
(3)
+
I
SS
Tgyff-fl <i=*-
zl=t 1
ps (5)
3=
(6)
'JOL
etc.
v_j:
^gfa
#*!=
SLl"
—
n8 17TH AND i8th CENTURY MUSIC
Execution.
#B»if^H^ttj^t
1==^
f4=^
i-i U13r3Q^
gte#s^
pfe^pSg
sjg flr
Ptf:
^j.-
n-a
—fm !x* izi:
etc.
Pier. Francesco Tosi " Opinioni de' cantori

:
antichi e moderni o sieno osservazioni sopra il

canto figurato " (Bologna, 1723). This book was
translated into English by John Ernest Galliard.
and published in London in 1724 under the title :
" Observations on the Florid Song, or Sentiments

of the Ancient and Modern Singers." A German
translation by J. F. Agricola, a pupil of J. S. Bach,
appeared in Berlin in 1757. It does not seem to
have been translated into French until 1874, when
an excellent translation with annotations was
published by Theophile Lemaire under the
title " L'Art du Chant."
It contains a chapter on the appoggiatura in
which the length of this ornament is not even
alluded to. It was so clear to everyone in those
days ! Galliard, in his translation, adds a note
on this point which is worth quoting :
ORNAMENTATION 119
" Appoggiatura
is a word to which the English
language has not an Equivalent it is a Note
;
added by the Singer, for the arriving more

gracefully to the following Note, either in rising
or falling. The French express it by two different
terms, Port de voix and Appuyer ; as the English
do by a Prepare and a Lead. The word
Appoggiatura is derived from Appoggiare, to lean on.
In this sense, you lean on the first to arrive at the
Note intended, rising or falling and you dwell
;
longer on the Preparation than on the Note for which

the preparation is made, and according to the value
of the Note."
In other words, the Appoggiatura is longer than
the principal note.
Here are two interesting extracts from Tosi's
book :
" Among the ornaments of singing there is

none so easy to teach and to learn as the
appoggiatura. Besides its own charm, it possesses
the unique privilege to be heard often without
tiring the auditor, provided it does not go beyond
the limits of good taste."
Tosi is right, the appoggiatura is not difficult to
master, with good examples. But the difficulty
for us is to get these good examples !
" As soon as the pupil will have mastered these

precepts, the appoggiature will become so familiar
to him with constant practice that, hardly out of
his first lessons, he will laugh at those composers
who write the appoggiature so as to pass for
modern, or to seem to understand the art of
singing better than the singers. If these
composers are so talented, why do they not write
also the '
passages (divisions, variations) which
'
are much more important and difficult than the
appoggiature ? If they write the latter not to lose
the glorious title of 'Virtuoso alia Moda,' they ought
at least to realise that it costs them much less
trouble and study. Poor Italy Tell me, I pray,
!
are the singers of to-day incapable of knowing

where the appoggiature ought to be made, if they
are not pointed out to them ? In my
time, one's
intelligence alone indicated them. Let an eternal
blame fall upon him who first introduced these
foreign puerilities into our nation which boasts to
teach other peoples the majority of the fine arts,
and particularly the art of Singing ! How
great is
the weakness of those who follow such an example !
What an insult to you, modern singers, who

tolerate such instructions, at the most good for
children. The foreigners deserve to be imitated,
and esteemed, but only in such things as they
excel in."
—
Some of the French composers Chambonnieres,
Marais, D'Anglebert, Couperin, Rameau, and some
of the Germans —
Muffat, C. Ph. E. Bach, were —
most careful to indicate in their music all they
thought necessary for its perfect understanding.
We are thankful to them now, not only because
their music gives us less trouble as soon as their
notation is understood, but because they help
us to understand the works of those who, like
J. S. Bach, Handel, and others, wrote without
logic or system, or any apparent idea that their
music would ever go beyond the limits of their
own circle, where under their paramount influence
no misunderstanding was possible. It is curious
that so many people, like Tosi, should have
•
actually resented precise notation. They wanted

ORNAMENTATION 121
everything left to the performer but the skeleton

of the music. The Italians were worse than
the others on that point.
In Theofilo Muffat's " Componimenti Musicali
per il Cembalo" (Augsburg, 1726), there is a very
complete and exact table of ornaments at the end
of the book. Muffat gives no names, only signs
and their execution. Here are those concerning
the appoggiature :
Signs. Th. Muffat, 1726.
s=fe zi
$
Execution.
S£ ^ 1 1
^r^=n4%^4^
-&
-j\
pfm
^— r^»-
IN li
:
i =r=pr
—
From J. Ph. Rameau's " Pieces de Clavecin avec
une Table pour les Agremens " (Paris, we
1731),
extract the following examples :
ORNAMENTATION 123
King George II. The Privilege was granted in
1739, but
the book is dated London, 1749.
It contains a table of Graces, from which the
following is an extract:
" Of the Superior Apogiatura.

"The Superior Apogiatura is supposed to
express Love, Affection, Pleasure, &c. It
should be made pretty long, giving it more than
half the length or time of the Note it belongs to,
observing to swell the Sound by Degrees, and
towards the end to force the Bow a little. If it be
made short, it will lose
of the aforesaid much
qualities but will always have a pleasing effect,
;
and it may be added to any note you will :
(To be
|\ played.) :S^
i
" Of the Inferior Apogiatura.
" The Inferior Apogiatura has the same qualities
with the preceding, except that it is much more
it can only be made when the Melody
confin'd, as
risesthe Interval of a second or third, observing
to make a Beat on the following Note :
ff tr /v
$ *fc
T
== :g£
ff r^S^^P^
These explanations are good, but incomplete.
It iswell to swell the sound of the appoggiatura,
but it obviously must be diminished again on the
principal note, or the effect would be absurd and
contrary to all that is known about it. It cannot
— —
124 i7th AND i8th CENTURY MUSIC

be admitted that the appoggiatura when " made
"
short . will always have a pleasing effect.
. . . .
Try it on some of the expressive Bach examples

already given, and particularly upon " So ist mein
Jesus nun," at page 106. The effect is positively
derisive.
In J. Quantz's "Versuch einer Anweisung," &c,
J.
Berlin, 1752, there is a rich store of information
concerning the appoggiatura :
Chap. 8., § 1. "The 'Vorschlage' (Italian

Appoggiatura, French Ports de voix) are not only
ornaments, but also a very necessary thing.
Without them the melody would be often dry
and plain. If a melody is to have a polished
appearance, it must contain more concords than
discords. However, when after several concords
in succession comes a long concord, the ear might
easily become tired. The discords must sometimes
excite and re-awake it. This is what the
appoggiature may help to do, because they change
a third into a fourth, a sixth into a seventh,
and resolve it on the following note.
" § 2. They are written in small notes, so they may
not be mistaken for ordinary notes, and they take
their value from the notes before which they are
found. It does not matter much whether they
be semiquavers, quavers, or crotchets. However,
it is usual to write them as quavers, and one uses
semiquavers only before notes from which none

of the value can be taken for example, before
;
one or more long notes, be they crotchets or

minims, if they are of the same pitch :
ORNAMENTATION 125
These semiquavers must be expressed very briefly,

whether they come from below or above, and they
must be played on the beat, in the time of the
principal note.
" § 3- The appoggiature, being a retardation
from the preceding note, may be taken from above
or below, according to the note which precedes
(see Exx. 1 and 2). When the preceding note is one
or two degrees higher than the one which has an
appoggiatura, the latter must be taken from above
(see Ex. 3). But if the preceding note is lower, it
must be taken from below (see Ex. 4) ; and it is
mostly a ninth resolved upon a third, or a fourth
ascending to a fifth:
§ 4. The
" tongue should gently mark the
appoggiature, swell them if the time allows, and
slur the following note a little more softly. This
kind of ornament is called '
Abzug (French
'
Accents), and comes from the Italians."

The fifth and sixth paragraphs treat of a kind of
passing-note which the author calls " Passing
appoggiature " and which are essentially different
from true appoggiature. We shall consider these
later.
"
§ 7. Appoggiature are found
on a long note on
the accented beat which follows a short one on an
unaccented beat (see Ex. 5). One must hold the
appoggiatura half the value of the principal note
as at Ex. 6.
" § 8. If the appoggiatura belongs to a dotted
note, the latter is divided in three parts, of which
— — —
i 26 17TH AND i8th CENTURY MUSIC
the appoggiatura takes two and the principal note
only one, that is, the value of the dot. Thus the
notes at Ex. 7 must be played as indicated at
Ex. 8. This rule, as well as the one given in the
preceding paragraph, is general, whatever may
be the value of the notes, and whether the
appoggiature come from above or below the
principal notes :
Ex.5. Ex. 6.
SE zEE£ £ £ =i=PC
£EE£
i EEEEE
-F-F-
Ex. 7 Ex. 8.
aa
$ EE ESE Igi
"
§ g. When in a six-four or six-eight, two notes
are tied together, and the first has a dot after
it, as happens in the Gigues, one must hold the
appoggiatura the whole value of the dotted note

(see Exx. 9 and 11). They are played as at
Exx. 10 and 12, and do not follow the rule given
in § 8. These kinds of measures must be considered
in relation with the appoggiature as if they were
binary, and not ternary measures :
Ex. 9. Ex. 10.
BE
It t-EF-i — *— -:US
R-m— 1 —
Ex. 11. Ex. 12.
i ^gg m
§ 10. When there are shakes on notes which
"
form a discord to the bass, be they augmented
ORNAMENTATION 127
fourth,diminished fifth, or seventh, or second

Exx. 13, 14, 15, 16), the appoggiature must be
{see
made very short, so that the discords may not be
changed into concords. For example If the :
appoggiatura of Ex. 15 were held half as long as

the Gf which follows with a shake, one would
hear, seventh G#
instead of the F, a sixth —
A— F, and
consequence there would be no
in
more discord. This must be avoided as much as
possible, so as not to spoil the beauty and pleasure
of the harmony :
Ex. 14.
Ex. 15. Ex. 16.

tr
4—
m
i-
i
¥ tr
§ 11. When there is an appoggiatura to a note

"
followed by a rest, you must give to the appoggiatura
the whole time of the principal note, and to the
latter the time of the rest, unless you absolutely
must take breath. The three kinds of appoggiature
at Ex. 17 are played as at Ex. 18 :
Ex. 17. Ex. iS
fesfeEfege m
" § 12. It is not sufficient to know how to play
the appoggiature according to their nature,
when they are marked you must also know
;
where to place them rightly when they are not

written. Here is a rule showing how to do it.
When after one or several short notes on the down

or up beat comes a long note which is a concord,
you must make an appoggiatura before the long
note to keep the melody pleasant the preceding
;
note will show whether the appoggiatura must

come from above or from below.
" § 13. The following example comprises most
kinds of appoggiature. To be convinced of their
necessity and of the excellent effect they produce,
you have but to play this example with the
appoggiature as indicated, and to omit them
afterwards the difference of taste will then be
;
distinctly seen. You will see also by this

example that the appoggiature are mostly used
before notes preceded or followed by quicker
ones, and also that most shakes require an
appoggiatura."
The first two appoggiature of bar 8 are of the
" passing-note " kind, and so is the first of bar 13,
although the latter might be treated as a long one.
It may be remarked here that in doubtful cases the
long appoggiatura is most likely to be the best.
The "passing" appoggiature are explained at
page
Moderate.
iIhk#3 (/)
-si&z
w
f-tr js
(a)
ORNAMENTATION 129
m =
p=ip
N^_
^
5=*V-
(d)
£=E^£=
(«)
^
^^g /y
-•J**
i =p=
^|g^ & *--*-
w
^=3
SES
J*
fe
p>/r
r>
2fe
T
*_-t»-
f *
2/
*^- fe*-
i
r-i --^
FT !-
•
>-< J C- |
'
F^™
to) w
(13)
>£-.
pH ^p^
^Lfpn-g^Â ist
^,;--
Pv-_-P-4Q=
£E ii£3EE
(»)
eigrF^^
Hiw
to
Quantz gives a number of
5^ w
adorn the appoggiature in this example;
*y
ft
" Kleine Manieren"

ii
although they are not in order here, anticipating

their respective explanations, it was thought better
to give them, as otherwise his instructions would
not be complete. Care should be taken to place
the ornaments according to the letters in both
— — :
i 3o 17TH AND i8th CENTURY MUSIC

examples, (a) and (b) are shakes: page 154. (c)
id) are mordents page 209. (e) is a turn

(/) (g) :
page 224 :
Some interesting examples of appoggiature are

found Fr. Wilh. Marpurg's " Die Kunst das
in
Clavier zu spielen," published at Berlin in 1750.
A French translation, revised and augmented, and
with engraved examples, appeared at Berlin in
1756. We
shall quote from the latter.
Marpurg began to introduce the method (after-
wards perfected by C. Ph. E. Bach) of giving to the
small note indicating the appoggiatura the value it
really ought to have. These small notes appear
therefore in the form of minims, crotchets, quavers,
semiquavers, dotted notes of all values.
Marpurg's table the
It is interesting to see in
old signs —
cross, comma, and lines indicating
half-long appoggiature, as in Playford, Locke,
Purcell, &c. the small notes of indistinct value
;
indicating long appoggiature, as in Couperin and

Bach ; and the small notes with a precise meaning
as in C. Ph. E. Bach :
Vivement.
$ Le port
EE
de voix simple.
E£
ESt
i ^ Ê
-P=5=^
ORNAMENTATION 131
p & Lentement. !
1
SE ^L-*-
1=3" t=*
Ê Q3E
^-T—
H ?cz^S:
*«r
F- 5 -*
i»qF^
I
fe £=:=£= ^*£
IS 1.
F-4— U=
1 "p i^^g
^
p^jg ^
i
<jr
=*r=F=
* =^£ ^
-^
^ fe
&?
i f-'TT
rn^rn
—
i 32 17TH AND i8th CENTURY MUSIC
C. Ph. E. Bach, in his " Versuch," &c, already
quoted, has given an exhaustive treatise on
the appoggiatura. The art of ornamentation, and
particularly the use of the appoggiatura, had
attained their fullest development with him. Many
of his examples would never find place in music
earlier than his. He himself has been so careful
in noting down the exact performance of the
appoggiature in his own music that it might seem
unnecessary to reproduce all his instructions.
He has shown not only how to interpret written
appoggiature, but demonstrated by examples
where they should be placed in incomplete texts.
Besides, he confirms, enlarges, and deepens the
precepts given by his forerunners. At the present
time, however, when so much ignorance, and,
— worse still, so many wrong notions prevail,
one could hardly fear to be accused of shedding
too much light on the subject. As was said
before, Marpurg, and probably others, had started
the idea of writing the appoggiature with small
notes of the value they intended them to have.
C. Ph. E. Bach adopted and systematized this
plan. As a result, we can always know how
to play his appoggiature by examining the
value of the small notes used as signs. He did
not find it necessary, therefore, in the examples
in his book, to write out in full, in measured
notes forming part of the bar, how these appoggia-
ture should be played, unless there was some
special point to elucidate.
Weshall do the same here ;his examples will
be reproduced as he gave them, excepting that the
C clef on the first line will be replaced by the
more familiar G
clef.
ORNAMENTATION 133
And once again, at the risk of redundancy, let it
be well understood that C. Ph. E. Bach's method
of indicating the value of the appoggiatura does
not apply to earlier composers, not even to
J. S. Bach, his father
" Chap. ii. : On Appoggiature.

" § 1. Appoggiature among the most
are
important graces. They improve the melody as
well as the harmony. Their effect is grateful, for
they smoothly connect the notes by them such ;
notes as might feel too long are shortened, and

similarly they delight the ear by repeating a
preceding sound. It is well known that in music
the timely repetition of a sound is pleasant. In
other ways, they bring variety to the harmony
which without these appoggiature might seem
too simple. It is possible to trace back all
suspensions and dissonances to these appoggia-
ture; and what would harmony be without
both these things ?
" § 2. Appoggiature are partly written as
ordinary notes, forming part of the bar, and partly
indicated with small notes which do not seem to
affect the value of the main note, although in the
execution the latter always loses some of its value.
§ 3. The little that need be said about the
"
former will be mentioned later we shall treat
;
principally here of the latter. Both kinds occur

as well from above as from below.
"
§ 4. These small notes
are either of various
durations, or else altogether short.
§ 5. On account of this
" characteristic of the
former kind, people began not very long ago to
write these appoggiature according to their true
—
134 i7 TH and i8th CENTURY MUSIC
value, whereas formerly they were all written as
quavers (see Exx. i, 2) : —
Ex. 1. Ex. z.
Eife=E
=«?=
"
At that time appoggiature of such various
durations had not yet been introduced. With the
present taste, however, we could not well do
without a precise notation, since the rules for
determining their value are inadequate on account
of the variety of notes to which they may belong.
" § 6. We
see from Exx. 3 and 4 that an
appoggiatura may be a repetition of the preceding
note or otherwise (Exx. 5 to 12), and that the
following note may proceed by degree, ascending or
descending, or by skip :
Ex. 3. Ex. 4. Ex.5.
~£f zj^r
*b
*-
& r
-n
fc=
Pa
f~
-v V
Ex. 6. Ex. 7. Ex. 8.
*
,5 JU_
Ex. 9. Ex. 10 Ex. 11.
* This example is one of the exceptions. The author does not explain it
here, but in paragraph 16, where it is repeated.
ORNAMENTATION 135
" We
§ 7. learn further from these examples
(Exx. 1 to 12) how they should be performed.
All appoggiature are played louder than the
following note with its ornaments (if any), and
are slurred with it, whether it be so written or
not. These two points are in keeping with the
spirit of the appoggiatura, since by their means
the notes are smoothly connected together.
" The appoggiatura must also be held until the
following note is sounded, so as perfectly to slur
the two together. The expression, when a
simple soft note follows an appoggiatura, is called
'Abzug' (French Accent: literally, 'dying off').
" § 8. As the signs for the appoggiatura and the
trill are almost the only ones understood by every-
body, they are generally given. But as this

cannot always be depended upon, one should try
to learn where to place these varying appoggiature.
"
§ g. Besides what we have already seen in
§ 6, appoggiature of varying durations also occur
in common time on down beats (Ex. 13), and on
up beats (Ex. 14) in triple time on the down
;
beat only (Ex. 15), and always before a fairly

long note.
" They are also found before a final trill (Ex. 16),
before a half-close (Exx. 17, 18, ig, 20), before a
caesura (Exx. 21, 22), before a pause (Ex. 23),
before the key-note following a trill (Ex. 24), or on
the final note without a preceding trill (Ex. 25).
We see by example (Ex. 24) that after a trill
the appoggiatura from below is better than from
above; therefore the case of Ex. 26 would not
sound well.
" dotted notes sometimes bear this kind of
Long
appoggiatura {see Ex. 27). But even though they
— — —

be marked with short notes, their tempo must
still be moderate :
Ex. 13. Ex. 14.
T-g-J'J
-* *- Wz
$ 3z -n- ^^sr-
r 1
T
Ex. 15. Etf. 16.
Wz 5fet
$ ^F^ffF1 If
T
Ex. 17. Ex. 18.
I
J59*
SjJ-p ^ it
J
TZT it
T
Ex. 19. Ex. 20.
HiEL I I
lEEah At
-§^
r r ?-
LfCJ
Ex. 21 Ex. 22.
:*=3= Wz
—« W-
. UJ
Ex. 23. Ex. 24.
<>"
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I
i i^£S
e*e£ LÊ
r
ORNAMENTATION 137
Ex. 25. Ex. 26.
e
*r
££ =£ 33Z
i
^
P
Ex. 27.
zj-r—jr-^-
F" "F"
*=tr=
T r
" § 10. Varying appoggiature from below do not
often occur otherwise than where they are a
repetition of the preceding note; but those from
above are used in many other ways.
" § 11. According to the usual rule concerning the
value of these varying appoggiature, we find that
they take half the value of the following note in
common time (Exx. 28, 29, 30, 31) and two-thirds
in triple time (Exx. 32, 33). But the following
examples are worthy of remark (Exx. 34 to 39)."
(The author does not give the rules regulating
these appoggiature those concerning Exx. 34, 36,
;
37> 39 have been given by Quantz (at page 126, § 9).

Exx. 34 and 38 can be understood if we notice that
the rhythm of the figures would be obscured were
the appoggiature treated in the usual way. They
might be made short, but obviously the author
desired the effect of a long appoggiatura. There-
fore hisis the only solution. In this way the
relative value of the notes of the rhythmical figures
at least is preserved, though their speed is doubled.)
Ex. 28. Ex. 29. Ex. 30. Ex. 31. Ex. 32. Ex. 33.
-*&- i
$ P
—

Ex. 34. Ex. 35. Ex. 36.
i ^^ fei =1=
Execution.
i ^^md^m =&
Ex. 37. Ex. 38. Ex. 39.
£e *E
f =^3=
Execution.
I^Sg 5g=^
i *
" Exx. 40, 41, 42, frequently occur. The method
of writing them is not the best, since the rests
cannot be observed. It would be better to add
dots or use longer notes :
Ex. 40. Ex. 41. Ex. 42.
-gi-e-
1
Execution.
i EE ^
(The following paragraphs concern short
appoggiature only the kind called by the author
;
" unchanging," because they are always short. He

might have called his "varying" appoggiature
long, since they are always so, though not
always of the same length, and the others short,
thus avoiding all possibility of misunderstanding.
Anybody would see the difference between long
ORNAMENTATION 139
and short, whilst the terms varying, variable, &c,

have already caused some to muddle up the
whole affair. However, he did not do so, and it
was thought best to keep as near as possible to the
original text.)
" § 13. It is only natural that the unchanging
short appoggiature should occur frequently with
short notes. See Exx. 43, 44, 45, 46 :
Ex. 43. Ex. 44. Ex. 45.
They are written as semiquavers, demisemiquavers,

or even shorter notes, and are played so rapidly that
the following note hardly loses any of its value.
However, they are also used before long notes
sometimes when a note is repeated several times in
succession, Exx. 47, 48, and otherwise also, Ex. 49
before a caesura, in connection with a short note,
Ex. 50; with syncopations, Ex. 51; with tied
notes, Ex. 52 in slurred passages, Exx. 53, 54, 55.
;
The character of the principal notes in these

examples remains unaltered :
Ex. 47.
=t=t
Ex. 48.
=E=*3#
Ex. 49.
JS
^
Ex. 50.
3EE3E
Ex. 51.
iÊ
-8--N-1
MM£q
i T 1
— —»
Ex.53.
Ex. 52.
-I
Jz riM
^"— rpr^s:
Ex. 54.
L^
$ *
Ex. 55-. Ex. 56.
$ m^,
P"-3C5
-t— 1-
5 :i*z
4=**:
" Ex. 56 with appoggiature from below sounds

better when the appoggiature are played as quavers.
It remains to be said that in all examples concerning
short appoggiature, the latter must remain short,
even when the example is played slowly.
" § 14. When the appoggiature fill up skips of
thirds, they are also short (Ex. 57). In an Adagio,
however, the expression is more flattering if they
are played as a quaver forming part of a triplet,
and not as semiquavers. The division of the time
is shown at Ex. 58 :
Ex. 57.
"Sometimes for certain reasons the conclusion

of a phrasemust be interrupted the appoggiatura ;
must then be very short :
Ex. 59.
T
*
-m- -m- -»-
" The appoggiature before triplets are played

short (Ex. 60) so that the character of the triplet
ORNAMENTATION 141
may not be obscured and a confusion brought

about with the sort of figure shown at Ex. 61 :
Ex. 60. Execution. Ex. 61.

—3—
I -*~-»r
f^z
T^JT
"When the appoggiatura forms an octave with the

bass it cannot be long, or otherwise the harmony-
would be too weak (Ex. 62) but if it were a ;
diminished octave, it might be made long (Ex. 63) :
Ex. 62. Ex. 63. tr
H £ _M
fc*=
1
$ -^ f?
r p-
" If a note rises a second

and immediately returns,
eitherby an ordinary note or by an appoggiatura,
a short appoggiatura will gracefully spring on the
middle note (Exx. 64, 65) :
Ex. 64. Ex. 65.
ua
$
Exx. 66 to 92 there are many appoggiature
" In
on all kinds of notes in duple and triple time. In
Ex. 66 a long appoggiatura would also be possible.
" As staccato notes must always be played more
plainly than legato notes, and as the appoggiatura
must always be slurred with the following note, it
stands to reason that in all the examples the legato
is understood.
" Let it be moreover, that with all ornaments
said,
a moderate tempo is required, because ornamenta-
tion is not effective if the speed is too great.
Ex. 66. Ex. 67.
Ex. 87. Ex. 88.
=P —
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4J=
Ex. Ex. 90.
=»=£S5rt£S :
SE -W—+-P— '^f-
±=fc?
Ex. 91. Ex. 92.
JL
iigig^ £EE§ =^^=P=i=
ORNAMENTATION 143
" In Ex. 93, where a short note is followed by a
long note of uneven value, an appoggiatura would
not sound well. We
shall see later another kind
of ornament which would be more effective :
Ex. 93.
£3
$=£
E
" § 16. Besides the directions already given

regarding the value of appoggiature, there are
cases where the passionate feeling of the phrase
demands an appoggiatura longer than usual, and
consequently of more than half the value of the
following note (Ex. 94) :
Ex. 94. tr
tr
J* J.
iftct =93* ±
i =ff= *F
tr
tr
M t=*M
B Execution.
P=#f
:
r
*=
" Sometimes the duration of the appoggiatura is

determined by the harmony. If, in Exx. 95, 96,
the appoggiature were played as crotchets, the
fifth and the third quaver of every bar would be
very crude, whilst in Ex. gj plain consecutive
fifths would be the result :
Ex. 97.
Ex. 95. Ex. 96.
ft
=£ \
$ TTJ^'^^^^F
— ——
144 i7 TH a ND i8th CENTURY MUSIC
" In the following
example (Ex. 6, reproduced
from p. 134) the appoggiatura must be no longer
than a quaver, otherwise the seventh thus produced
—
(G F) would sound too crude :
*-J-. ft
^
7 -r
"
§ 17. In using appoggiature, as well as other
ornaments, care must be taken not to injure the
purity of the composition. For this reason it
would not be right to imitate Exx. 98 and 99. It
would be better, therefore, to write all appoggiature
according to their true value :
Ex. 98. Ex. 99.
(Note : the two consecutive octaves in Ex. 98 and the two consecutive
fifths in Ex. 99.)
" § 18. All these appoggiature, with their

1
Abzug,' especially when they occur frequently,
produce a singularly good effect in very expressive
places, because they die away as it were in a
pianissimo (Ex. ioo) :
Ex. 100.
"5 „ +
i 1
T -^ P-
PP
(Note : the cross -f is equivalent to tr.)
ORNAMENTATION 145
" In other instances, however, they might weaken
the melody, unless the following note receives a
lively ornament, or they are themselves ornamented.
" § 20. Whenan appoggiatura has been orna-
mented it preferable to leave the following
is
note plain such simplicity agrees well with the
;
morendo effect proper to it. A

plain appoggiatura,
on the contrary, may have its main note ornamented
(see Ex. 101 for an example of the latter and Ex. 102
for the former) :
Ex. 101. Ex. 102.

,tr ,*
ate±
B
Execution.
|I W
-
\ "Fi =P=
* SB
" § 20. As these ornamented appoggiature often
require additional small notes, they introduce
other ornaments which are explained later it is ;
usual in such cases to write the appoggiatura in

full as part of the bar (see Ex. 103). In slow
movements the appoggiatura as well as the main
note may at times be ornamented (see Ex. 104) :
Ex. 103. Ex. 104.
iCVC J-H=
i -t
" § 21. Appoggiature are often written in full,

so that neither they nor the main note may be
ornamented :
Ex. 105.
i S
— —
" Although the notes following an appog-
§ 21.
giatura lose some of their value, yet they do not
lose their ornament, should one be placed over
them (Ex. 106). On the other hand the ornament
must not be marked over the note which indicates
the appoggiatura. The sign should be placed where
it belongs. If the ornament is to be executed
between the appoggiatura and the main note, it
must be placed between them (Ex. 107):
Ex. 106. Ex. 107.
$
Execution.
——+1— • — —P-»-«-«
1 -l-t-
\-
«=
" § 23. Before appoggiature from above, which
have been written out in full, additional appog-
giature both long and short can sometimes be
used when the preceding note is repeated
(see Exx. 108, 109), but not when the written
appoggiatura stands before the final note of a
phrase. Ex. no shows the bad effect of such
a case
Ex. 108. Ex. 109. Ex. no.
(Here the author has gone too far and himself

given a bad example, for the appoggiature at
ORNAMENTATION 147
Exx. 108 and 109 weaken the harmony and fall
under the rule he has exemplified at Ex. 62, and
which Quantz has expressed better (see page 126,
§ 10). But at that time the appoggiatura fashion
had become a craze. When rules are given for
applying appoggiature to appoggiature, it ought
to be time to stop.)
"Written-out appoggiature from below cannot
admit additional appoggiature, whether from above
or below (Ex. in) but they could be followed by
;
one (Ex. 112) :
Ex. 112.
" § 24. There are other faults concerning appog-

giature which we shall consider here. The first
is when, after a short trill, an appoggiatura is

introduced from above at the close (see Ex. 26
ante)." [It is not clear why the author reiterates
here the rule already given in connection with that
example.] Should the trill come after an
appoggiatura, the following note descending
(Ex. 113) or ascending (Ex. 114) could stand an
appoggiatura :
Ex. 113. Ex. 114.
iS •3=r- ± d
m
(Note : The + is equivalent to tr.)
—
" The second fault is when the appoggiatura
becomes separated from the main note either
.
'
because it has not been sustained enough or has

been joined to the preceding note and taken out of
its time (Exx. 115, 116) :
Ex. 115.
ORNAMENTATION 149
" It will be seen from these examples that you can
avoid such faults by turning these Nachschldge
into Vorschldge (appoggiature proper)."
—
(A protest. The rendering condemned by the
author at Ex. 116 is used by many excellent
musicians, J. S. Bach included. It is nothing else
but the " Passing appoggiature " to be seen later.
The "hateful Nachschlage," as he calls them, have
been in use under the names of Springer, Acute,
Sighs, Accents, Aspiration, &c, from the beginning
of the 17th century, and probably earlier. That
C. Ph. E. Bach should dislike them is allowable
he was not forced to use them in his works. But
his advice that they should be turned into
something else when they occur elsewhere cannot
be approved of. He shows himself distinctly in
advance of his time in taking such liberties with
other people's music.)
Passing Appoggiature.
These ornaments, probably because they were
marked with the same signs as appoggiature, have
been confused by nearly all writers with the true
appoggiature, although they are quite different in
nature. Quantz speaks of them as follows :
" Chap, viii., 5. There are two kinds of

§
appoggiature. The first are played like accented
notes on the accented beat ;the others like
unaccented notes on the off beat. The first could
be called "beating" (German anschlagende
French frappant), the second "passing" (German
durchgehende ; French passage?).
" § 6. The passing appoggiature are found
when several notes of the same value descend by
— —

skips of thirds (see Ex. i). They must be played
as seen at Ex. 2 :
Ex. Ex.
^
1. 2.
A£
it
2fe
^5*=^
4=
* 5E Ê£ ^t=S=t
" One must hold the dots, and accent the first of
the two slurred notes, that is to say, the second,
fourth, sixth, &c. This kind of figures must not be
confused with those where the dot comes after the
second slurred note, and which express almost the
same melody (see Ex. 3).. In these figures, the
Ex. 3. Ex. 4.
—
i *£ JSt *=*?
1
fc* mg&
-^-•-a-Fr-*-*
-j— F ill *
second, fourth, and the following short notes strike

on the accented beat, like discords against the
bass and so they are played boldly and quickly.
;
On the contrary, the passing appoggiature in

question demand a flattering expression. If,
then, the appoggiatura in Ex. 1 were made long

and accented, and its value taken out of the
following note, the meaning would be completely
altered and become like that of Ex. 4. This
would be quite in opposition to the French style of
playing, from which these appoggiature are derived,
and contrary to the intention of their inventors,
who have won general praise with regard to them."
The passing appoggiature are amongst the
"Accents " in Praetorius's tables, already mentioned
(page 95) (see Exx. 5, 6) :—
Ex. 5. Ex. 6.
i ~4i Efe
ORNAMENTATION J 5i
Marpurg, 1750, already quoted, turns the hooks

of the small notes indicating the passing appoggia-
ture to the left, pointing towards the preceding
note out of whose time they are to be taken, to
distinguish them from true appoggiature He also .
uses them in ascending passages. His examples

are as follows :
Ex. 7. Ex. 8.
-P=m^
e£
§ ?E=t
Execution.
§ 1 ^ «^ -=>0-
4=B=
-£=¥^
Leopold Mozart, " Griindliche Violinschule,"

1756, says " Passing appoggiature (Durchgehende
:
Vorschldge). These appoggiature do not take

their time from the main note following, but they
must be made out of the time of the preceding
note (Ex. 9) :
Ex.
Vt U A
s ?3? Sfe"
tat
Execution.
:fcs£
*"»
meaning
(The signs [J
~ A "will be understood by violinists as
up and down bows.
Daniel Gotlob Turk, in his " Klavierschule oder

Anweisung zum Klavierspielen fiir Lehrer und
Lernende, mit Kritischen Anmerkungen " (Leipzig,
1789), the latest book worth consulting about old
music, gives the execution of such figures both as
true appoggiature and as passing appoggiature
(Ex. 10, a, b).
— , —
He says in a
note " Formerly these Nachschldge
:
were indicated by small notes with their hooks

reversed " (Exx. 10, n, 12) :
Ex. 10. Ex. 11. Ex. 12.

w <»).
i z*=*=
-fcsT
:us: m
We shall now consider a few passages in
J. S. Bach's works where the passing appoggiature
occur :
Das wohltemperirte Klavier, vol. ii., Praludium XXIII.
Execution. ^] J j*"^ ,^>« J

ORNAMENTATION 153
Another is the " Aria " which served as theme

for the thirty variations known as " The
Goldberg " :—
Execution.
î
—
jt^L
. ^
=t =£=*
PH r
^=F
-*s—
&-
W£f
=££=*=
-==!
^-T^S
^SE
^
18 25
—
i gggE
ar* rj - !
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1 ^ ^
l!S^= ^
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The first appoggiatura in bar 2 is of the passing

kind. It fillsup a skip of a third and is on
—
154 I7TH AND i8th CENTURY MUSIC

the unaccented beat. The second in the same
bar is of the ordinary kind, a long one it comes
;
before a long note on an accented beat.

At bar 7 Bach has written in full the short
appoggiature he wanted, for fear one might play
them as passing-notes, and destroy the meaning.
At bar 12 the case is similar to that of bar 2.
There would naturally be an appoggiatura on the
C|, to start the ornament.
At bar 18 the passing appoggiature would not
fit; the first one must be on the beat, since the time
it would have to take if played before the beat
is already filled. The passage answers to that in

bar 7. On the G, second beat of the bar, occurs a
long appoggiatura subject to the ordinary rule for
dotted notes. The G, last note in the bar, has to be
turned into a semiquaver to keep the relative
values of the figure J J\ (See C. Ph. E. Bach,
.
§ 11, page 137.) It would have to be shortened

in any case, according to the usual lengthening
of dots in such movements.
In bar 25 the conditions are the same as in bar 2.
SECTION II. The Shake or Trill.

Half-shakes, Sudden shakes. Italian Groppo,
:
'
Trillo, Tremoletto. French : Tremblement, Cadence,

Trille, Pince renverse. German : Triller, Pralltriller.
These names have been used for various kinds
of ornaments. The shake we shall consider here
was the chief grace of Chambonnieres, Purcell,
Couperin, Rameau, J. S. Bach and his sons, and
practically all the musicians of the 18th century.
It continued well into the igth century; in fact,
until the advent of the pianoforte virtuosi.
ORNAMENTATION 155
Its chief characteristics are : —

1. A principal note, part of the harmony, and an
auxiliary note a whole-tone or a semitone
above it.
2. The rapid alternation of these two notes so

arranged rhythmically that the accent falls
upon the upper note, at least at the beginning.
The shake is closely allied to the appoggiatura
from above. It can be used in the same places,
the latter often serving as a preparation to it. It
is derived from the " Divisions " and " Groppi " of
the 1 6th century. Sylvestro di Ganassi, in his
Treatise upon the Flute, entitled, " La Fontegara,
&c," published at Venice in 1535, has examples
of perfect shakes amongst his " Divisions."
Here is one :
Ganassi, 1535.
i -d &- 3S^g
A shake identical with this one, showing the same
number of notes and the same termination, exists
not only amongst J. S. Bach's own examples but
in those of almost every writer, from D'Anglebert
to the end of the 18th century. It should be
remarked that the number of repercussions was left
to the player's discretion, in the early days when
the shakes were, or rather appeared to be, written
out in full, as well as in later times, when they
were indicated by a sign or even not marked at all.
Diego Ortiz' " Trattado de glosas, &c," Rome,
1553, has the following shake :
Diego Ortiz, 1553.

— — —
Luigi Zacconi, " Practica di Musica," Venice,
1592, has the following ornament, which to the
eye is a prolonged shake, but if one considers the
" ground " upon which it works, is a mordent upon
the B, a real shake upon the A, and becomes a
mordent again upon the Gtf :
Luigi Zacconi, 1592.
i zezz
Ell
jOO
Girolamo Diruta, " II Transilvano," Venice, 1593,

has real shakes amongst his divisions. The second
in the following examples is identical with Bach's
" Doppelt Cadenz," and was frequent in the 18th
century :
G. Diruta, 1593.
i ^s
Efe =P-*-F
3=
The example from Andrea Gabrieli's " Canzon

Ariosa," 1596, given below, shows a true shake :
Canzon Ariosa, 1596. G. Gabrieli.
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m^
ORNAMENTATION !57
Written-out shakes occur frequehtly in the virginals

and organ music of the period 1530- 1650; but
these are surrounded by other ornaments which,
although resembling shakes, do not possess
their chief characteristic.
The ornaments under the slurs (a), (b), (c), (d) in

the following extracts from John Bull's " Queen
Elizabeth's Pavan," are all true shakes, but the
others are not. In the first bar, during the third
beat, the ornament is a mordent ; the change in the
harmony on the fourth beat would make it a true
shake if it were continued beyond its written value,
which would be quite in order, according to the
custom of the time.
In the second bar, the first half of the third bar,
and such other places, we find only divisions
resembling shakes :
•Queen Elizabeth's Pavan." Dr. J. Bull, c. 1600.
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&c.
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These shakes are not common in the English

music for other instruments at that period. The
virginal players were leaders of the fashion. Here
is an example from Daniel Norcombe (e). It is
one of the three or four to be found amongst
twenty-nine important sets of Divisions by him :
Divisions on a Ground. Daniel Norcombe, t. 1605.

==F =:
Viola da
Gamba.
Ground.
ORNAMENTATION 159
Later, these shakes became more common. The

Divisions of Christopher Simpson contain a great
many.
Among the " Groppi " of Prsetorius, 1618, are
some true shakes. (See Ex. (a).) At Ex. (b),
as the theme varies from one to the other of the
two notes forming the shake, it results that during
the first crotchet there is a true shake, during the
following minim a mordent, and a shake again in
the following crotchet :
Groppi. Pr^torids, 1618.
With Frescobaldi, 1614, the conditions are the

same as with the English virginal writers. There
are true shakes, fully written out, and many
divisions resembling shakes. A
small t frequently
found on short notes is the sign for an ornament
which in most cases requires the upper auxiliary,
but starts on the main note and therefore is
not a true shake. Most of the shakes we have
seen, so far, occur on closes where the harmonic
conditions resemble those of a later period.
The earlier music, based on descant and
counterpoint, does not lend itself to appoggiature
and shakes. These ornaments can only flourish
upon a concordant harmony, which they transform
and enrich by adding to one of the elements of the
chord the flavour of the discord next above it:
the fourth to the third, the sixth to the fifth,
the seventh to the sixth, the ninth to the octave.
—
160 i7 th AND i8th CENTURY MUSIC
The divisions, on the contrary, do not alter the
notes of the subject or counterpoint. They
repercuss and embroider them, they fill the
spaces between them with passing-notes, but they
have to start from and return to them. It is
possible, and indeed frequent, to play both the
subject and the division together, an impossible
thing with the ornaments of the succeeding period.
From the middle of the 17th century the shake
began to establish itself, and a long list of
documents containing precise instructions on the
subject is available. It begins with Playford's
" Introduction to the skill of Music," 1654:
j. J. Plavford, 1654.
ofc 3Z =t m
A Backfall shaked. Elevation.
Explanation, ...
Cadent.
±z
(Note.— The
«ig
Backfall is an appoggiatura. The Elevation is a slide,
preparing a turned shake. In the Cadent the beginning is again a slide,
but the end of the shake is plain.)
The first shake

not finished: its sequel is left
is
to the imagination the second finishes in an
;
appoggiatura from below, of medium length, as

is usual with the English composers of that time.
In Christopher Simpson's "The Division Violist,"

1659, table of graces by Dr. Colman (see page 9,6),
the shakes are the same as above.
ORNAMENTATION 161
With the lute-players the shake was a very

important grace their plain shake, however, began
;
on the main note and was not therefore a true

shake. It is described at page 202. But their
shake was often combined with an appoggiatura,
and then it became a true shake. Here is what
Thomas Mace (1676) says about the Backfall
shaked, as he calls it. He is representative of the
other lute-players of that time :
Page 104 " Now you must know that the

:
Back-fall may be either Plain or Shaked if Plain, ;
you have done it already, by the last Direction.

" If Shaked, then Thus, viz.
" When you have given it that Twitch, (I have
not a fitter word you must Shake it,
to give it)
either with the Loud, or Soft Shake afterward,

as if it had not been Back-fall 'd ; and This, is
likewise sufficient for It."
In the " Pieces de Clavecin" of Chambonnieres,
Paris, 1670, the following shake is given :
Chambonnieres, 1670.
Cadence. Execution.
The indentations of the sign, which begin larger

than they finish [w] indicate graphically the
true performance of the shake, which should begin
slow and gradually increase in rapidity.
Le Begue, in his " Pieces de Clavecin," Paris,
1677, gives the same shake as Chambonnieres.
De Machy, in his "Pieces de Viole," Paris, 1685,
says:—" The shake (Tremblement) must be prepared
according to the value of the note, and played
evenly." In other words, it begins with an
appoggiatura.
— — — "

In Jean Rousseau's " Traite de la Viole," Paris,
1687, we find these explanations :
" De la Cadence.
" II faut
premierement remarquer que par le
mot de Cadence, j'entends le Tremblement ..."
which means, " You must first remark that by the
word " Cadence" I mean the " Tremblement."
Then why call it a Cadence ? " Tremblement
is the right name; yet "Cadence" survived!
Jean Rousseau continues :
"
There are two kinds of shakes the prepared :
shake and the unprepared shake. The prepared

shake is when the finger which must play the
shake rests a while, before shaking, upon the note
immediately above the one to be shaked."
In other words, the shake begins with an
appoggiatura. On short notes the shake should
be unprepared, or the preparation very slight.
Jean Henri D'Anglebert, in his " Pieces de Clave-
cin,' Paris, 1689, gives the following examples :
D'Anglebert, it
L**v
tl
Tremblement Tremblement
Cadence.
simple. appuye\
(«) (*) («)
C***v
i £
Tremblement
Autre.
et Pinc£.
ORNAMENTATION 163
The sign at (a) [~] is short ; but nevertheless

it stands for a long shake.
The
sign [L***] is graphic, and suggests the
prepared shake.
The two " Cadences " (c) and (d) are shakes
prepared by a turn.
The " Tremblement et Pince " is a shake with a
Turn as termination. This form is very frequently
used.
In Henry Purcell's (Posthumous) "Lessons for
the Harpsichord or Spinet," 1696, the following
explanations are given :
" A shake is mark'd thus

-$ explain 'd
thus
" A plain note and shake thus : afc
cplain'd thus :
(£ J 'J J J J
" The mark for the shake turn'd thus : St
explain'd thus :
Purcell's"plain note and shake" shows an

appoggiatura, of more than half the value of the
note, followed by a shake. This is interesting,
because his plain appoggiature are only given one
quarter of that value (see page 97). It shows that
the long appoggiatura was used in his time.

The "shake turn'd" shows a termination which
became very common later.
— —
1 64 17TH AND i8th CENTURY MUSIC

In the " Pieces de Viole " of Marin Marais,
1686, and De Caix d'Hervelois, 1710, the shakes
are indicated by a comma, thus :

— SE
This sign was employed later by Couperin,
Rameau and others for a mordent.
Sebastien de Brossard, in his " Dictionnaire de
Musique," Paris, 1703, says:
" Trillo, plural Trilli, which is often marked in
abbreviation by a T, or by TV, or simply by a small
t, as well for the voices as for the instruments. It
is often the mark that one must beat very quickly
alternately, or one after the other, two sounds
next to one another, like F E, or D, &c, in E
such a way that one begins with the higher, and
finishes with the lower, and this is properly the
'
Cadence or Tremblement in the French way.
'
'
'
But, it is also very often. ..."

(and the author
proceeds to tell us what the old Italian Trillo
was a completely different thing, as we shall see
:
hereafter (page 196).

Hotteterre-le-Romain, in his " Principes de la
Flute Traversiere," Paris, 1707, has an excellent
definition of the shake, and additional remarks
upon it which are worth quoting he calls the ;
shake " Cadence " :
" To render the idea of a shake clear to those

who do not conceive it, it can be defined The :
'
agitation of two notes at the distance of a whole-

tone or a semitone from one another, and beaten
several times in succession.' One begins with the
higher note and finishes with the lower, and
only articulates the first It is the Finger which
:
continues it. . . .
ORNAMENTATION 165
" The number of repercussions is regulated by

the length of the note. Above all you must be in
no hurry to start the shake; but on the contrary
hold it, about half the value of the note, principally
in grave movements. The least you can give to
short shakes is three movements of the finger, as
on crotchets in quick movements."
Three movements of the finger on the flute, as
on stringed instruments, make six notes, since one
is produced by lifting as by lowering the finger.
Francois Couperin, in his first book of
" Pieces de Clavecin," 1713, shows the following
shakes with their signs :
(a) (J) AW^""

Couperin, 1713.
$ 3fc
Tremblement appuyg et lie.

-P
Tremblement ouvert.
Tremblement fermfi.
IEt
Tremblement lie sans etre appuyg. Tremblement detached
i 3EW =J£ B^ EbbfeE

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Couperin's logic was not on a par with his
musical talent. The " Tremblement ouvert " (b)
and " Tremblement ferme " (c) are the same
ornament the next following note goes up in the
;
first and down in the second, but the shake is

not affected thereby.
— — —
The "Tremblement sans etre appuye " (d)
lie
is " appuye " (prepared)
too, or else his explanation
needs explaining. It is to be regretted that his
explanations are written in small notes, the value
and position of which are uncertain. But in his
" Methode " he elucidates the point.
Couperin, " Methode," page 23 :
" Although the shakes are marked equal in the

table of graces of my first book, they must,
however, begin slower than they finish but this :
gradation must be imperceptible.

" On whatever note a shake may be marked, one
must always begin it on the whole-tone or half-tone
above.
" The shakes of a value at all considerable com-
prise three things, which in the execution appear
only one and the same thing. i°. The prepare,
which is made upon the note above the essential.
2°. The shake. 3 The stopping point
.
:
i
Tremblement.
1. 2.
*r . r . t
" With regard

% =te*=^
toother shakes, they are

the
arbitrary. Some are prepared others are so short ;
that they have neither preparation nor stopping

point. They can even be aspired."
" Aspired " with Couperin, means cut short,
abruptly interrupted. An effect of this kind, for
example :
-f^? -*- 8
i
ORNAMENTATION 167
In the " Klavier Biichlein fiir Wilhelm

Friedemann Bach," J. S. Bach gives the following
shakes :
r»^L S. Bach, 1720.
The following signs indicative of shakes are also

found in Bach's works: tr, u~, t, +, <***. They
have no particular shade of meaning, being only
the consequence of his lack of system.
The shakes given above agree perfectly with all
we have seen, from Playford downwards, and all
we are going to see later. They are so exactly
like those of D'Anglebert's table (page 162), names,
explanations, signs, even the short sign [>] for a
long shake, that they were probably copied from it.
M
—
Bach's ornamentation agrees entirely with the
general practice of his time. He did not innovate
anything or fail to employ all that was good in
that direction. It is impossible, therefore, to
justify any exception about the execution of
shakes or other ornaments in his music. The
fact that one has been taught a certain passage
in a certain way, and that by grinding at it for
years and teaching it to others it has become so
incrusted in one's mind that a new reading
produces a shock, does not alter the question.
For example, the shake in the Fugue in
D minor, No. VI., from Vol. i. of " Das
wohltemperirte Klavier " should be played as
shown below :
m j "1
r
s^JKiaa
1
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m :t=t
ORNAMENTATION 169
It should moreover be reproduced exactly wherever

the subject occurs. It is the right way and also
the most beautiful.
Some might question the termination of the
shake. But without it, it would be shorn of much
of its beauty. It seems clear, moreover, that
Bach had that effect in his mind, for in the
ninth bar, the last in our example, and the two
following ones, he puts the sign <?o which means a
,
turn, instead of the tr and ** which he uses in

other places.
The following extracts from the chapter on
" The shake," in Tosi's " Opinioni," 1723, are
taken in part from the original, and from Galliard's
translation :
'"
He who possesses the shake, in all its perfection,
even if he were deprived of all other ornaments
could always easily come to the closes [cadenzas]
where this grace is most essential but he who
;
cannot do it, or does it badly, can never be a

great singer, however perfect he may be in other
respects.
— —
" The shake
being of such importance to the
singer, Master must strive, by means of
the
examples executed by the voice or instrument, to
help the pupil to acquire a beautiful Trill- equal, —
distinct, easy and of moderate speed. . . .
" There are eight kinds of shakes. The first

is the major shake, made from two sounds a whole
tone apart. Ex. (a) :
(a) (J) P. F. Tosi, 1723.
" The second is the minor shake, composed

of a semitone. Ex. (b). The third is the
half-shake, or short shake. Those who can do
the first two kinds will easily master this one, by
beating it a little quicker, and stopping almost as
soon as it is begun. It is more effective in lively
than in pathetic airs. Ex. (c) :
(c) Tosi, 1723.
" The fourth is the rising shake, which is done

by making the voice ascend from semitone to
semitone by imperceptible gradations.
" The fifth is the descending shake, which
reverses the former process." [Our notation is
incapable of expressing these two shakes in writing.
Tosi says they were already obsolete in his time.
He did not approve of them. One wonders what
they did sound like. Judging from the description,
nothing in modern music approaches them in point
of dissonance. There might be a new spell of
fashion for them.]
ORNAMENTATION 171
" The sixth is the slow shake whose name

expresses the nature by itself it is only an affected
;
tremolo; if it gradually merges into the first or

second kind it could hardly please after the first
time. Ex. [d)" :—
(') Tosi, 1723.
T3 ~
e = £=£-r r it
[Nevertheless, this shake has been used by many

eminent musicians from Couperin, already seen,
to others who will follow.]
" The seventh is the redoubled shake which
consists in interpolating a few notes to arrest the
progress of a major or minor shake, making several
shakes out of one. Ex. (e) :
—
Tosi, 1723.
" This shake is effective when the interpolated

notes are sung boldly. If it is done softly on high
notes, by a beautiful voice perfect in it, and not
used too often, it cannot displease even the
envious. The eighth is the trillo-mordente or
shake with a beat, which is one of the most
agreeable ornaments in the art of singing Nature ;
teaches it rather than art. It is born more rapidly

than the others, but hardly born it must die. It
is most useful when properly introduced amongst
divisions, and he who understands the art of
singing rarely fails to introduce it after an
;

appoggiatura. He who despises this shake must
be guilty of more than ignorance. See Ex. (/) :—
"
&^(/)
EEEt
For shake to be beautiful, it must be

a
prepared but the preparation is not always
;
possible, sometimes the time does not permit

it, nor the taste of the singer however, it is
;
necessary in final cadences and many other

places.
" The shake is subject to many faults which one
must know how to avoid. In former times, very

long shakes were in favour but nowadays, with
;
the improvements in art, it is left to trumpet

players, or those who do not mind running the
risk of bursting, for a Bravo I from the people. If
done too often, it cannot please, however well it
may be executed. It is unpleasant if unevenly
beaten. It makes one smile if it sounds like
laughter or the bleating of a goat. The perfect
shake is produced by a movement of the larynx
that produced on the interval of a third is
disagreeable the slow shake is tedious, and if
;
it is not perfectly in tune it is horrible. The

shake being absolutely necessary, the master must
encourage the pupil to practise it upon all the
vowels and throughout the whole compass of the
voice
" When the pupil has perfectly mastered the
shake, the master must find out whether he has
the same skill in stopping it, as some people seem
incapable of doing so. As to finding out where
ORNAMENTATION J 73
the trill should be used, besides the cadences, it

is an art that only practice, taste and intelligence
can teach."
InTheofilo Muffat's " Componimenti," &c, 1726,
the signs are clear and logical, and the explanations
accurate. No names are given to the ornaments:
(a) (b) are plain shakes ;
(c) shakes prepared with appoggiature of

(d) (e)
various lengths ;
(/) (s) Q1 ) z
( )
are shakes with terminations
showing also the introduction of necessary-
accidentals ;
(k) (I) (m) (n) are shakes prepared by a slide

(0) (p) show the combination of slide and
termination :
Th. Muffat, 1726.

t
— —
The shakes in J. P. Rameau's " Pieces de

Clavecin," 1731 are explained thus :
J. P. Ramead, 1731.
A*0
The example (b) would be better written as

follows :
and this is probably what the author means.

However, it makes little difference, since the speed
and number of notes in the shake were informal
after the start. The following remark and
ORNAMENTATION 175
examples given by Rameau are interesting :
" The note slurred to one having a shake or

mordent serves as a beginning to each of these
ornaments." (See Exx. (d) and (e) —
J. P. Rameau, 1731.
w
1
1 1 1
[A.D.]
p^
$ [/] lei
$ ££S£
Here again the explanations are not well
written moreover, the sign for the mordent ( )
;
>
is omitted. The writer suggests the reading given

at (/) and (g).
In Ch. Dieupart's " Suittes de Clavecin," c. 1720,
the following ornaments are given together with
their French and English names :
Ch. Dieupart, v. 1720,

05
Tremblement. Double Cadence. Tremblement pince .
A shake. A shake turn. A shake beat.

;

The on Good Taste " of F. Geminiani
" Treatise
(1739) contains the following remarks concerning

the shake :—
" The plain shake is proper for quick movements
and it may be made upon any note, observing
after it to pass immediately to the ensuing note.
Ex. (a).
" The
turned shake being made quick and long
is fit but if you make it short,
to express gaiety ;
and continue the length of the note plain and soft,

it may then express some of more tender passions."
Ex. {b) :—
Fr. Geminiani, 1739.
4- s
Geminiani is not logical. He speaks of the

shake in an Allegro, and gives a preposterous
number of repercussions just the shake for an ;
Adagio. At (c) he shows an appoggiatura on a

crotchet, and writes an ornament of a longer value ;
it is true that he puts Ten. under that crotchet.
But at (d) he gives an example of the redoubled

shake which is interesting.(See Tosi, page 171.)
Geminiani's sign for it, is worthy of remark.
too,
The line [
without ornament.
— ] indicates the holding of the plain note
ORNAMENTATION 177
The sign o^ used by Couperin and Rameau for

the suspension is employed in J. C. Mondonville's
" Pieces de Clavecin avec Voix ou Violon," c.
1745,
to indicate a prepared shake :
i Cadence.
Mondonville gives the following explanation,

but does not excuse his misappropriation of the
sign :—
" That sign °^ means that the shake must be
prepared."
J. Quantz, in his "
Versuch," &c, 1752, has an
exceedingly valuable chapter on the shake, from
which we shall quote the most part.
" § 1. The shakes give an incomparable brilliancy
to the execution, and are, like the appoggiature,
absolutelyindispensable. Should an instrumentalist
or a singer possess all the skill and taste
conceivable, if he cannot make a good shake, he
will not be considered as a perfect artist. Some
are given bynaturewhat others can onlyacquire after
much practice. One person can shake with all his
fingers, another only with a few, and to a third the
shake will be the torment of his life. It might be
believed that it depends more upon the nature of
the nerves than on the will. Intelligent practice,
however, can do much to improve matters,
provided one does not wait until the shake comes
of itself; and that one begins early, taking all
possible care to attain perfection on that point
before the fingers have reached their complete
development.
178 i
§ 2. All the shakes must not be made with
"
the same speed. One must consider not only the
place where one practises, but that where the
performance will take place. The echo of a large
hall will confuse the movements of the shake and
it may become blurred. If, on the contrary, one
plays in a small stuffy room, where the auditors
are very near, a rapid shake will be better than a
slow one. Besides, one must make a difference
according to the piece played, and not confuse
everything as so many people do. In a sad piece,
the shake should be slow but more rapid in a ;
merry one.
§ 3. As to the slowness or quickness, nothing
"
must be exaggerated. The very slow shake,
which is only used in the French style of singing,
is as bad as the very rapid shake, which the French
call chevrote (goaty). Even

though some of
the most famous might render it quite
singers
fascinatingly, one must not be influenced by that.
And although some think this goaty shake an
enviable accomplishment, they do not consider the
fact that a moderate and even shake is far more
difficult to do than one of extreme but indistinct
rapidity the latter should rather be accounted as
;
a fault.
"
§ The
shake of a third, which is made with
4.
a third instead of a second, has been in use
formerly and there are still Italian violinists
;
and oboe players who use it. But it should not

be used for either voice or instruments (unless it
be on the bagpipe). A
shake must only occupy
the interval of a tone, or semitone, according
to the mode and note from which the shake
originates.
ORNAMENTATION 179
"
§ 5. For a shake to be perfectly beautiful it
must be equal, that is to say, its speed must be
even and at the same time moderate for this ;
reason, on instruments, one must not lift the

finger for one beat higher than for another.
" § 6. It would be difficult to indicate the
precise speed of a good shake. I believe, however,
that a long shake at the close of a piece would be
neither too fast nor too slow, if within one beat of
the pulse the finger did not do much more than
four movements, and consequently eight of these
notes which may be seen at Ex. 1 :
Ex.
fee
1.
In a quick and merry piece, the short shakes can

be made a little quicker one could then, during
;
the time of a pulse beat, lift the finger once or

twice more. It must be clearly understood, however,
that this can happen only to short notes, and amongst
other short notes. It could be further remarked,
about the speed of shakes, that it must differ
according to whether the notes be high or low.
Speaking of the harpsichord, I should say that if
you take the speed already explained between the

notes :
i
you can make it a little quicker between :-
$
—— .

slower between :
Mt
and slower still in the lower octave. Applying

this to the voice, I conclude that a treble should
shake quicker than an alto a tenor and a bass ;
slower still. The shakes on the violin, viola,

violoncello, and violone will be equal to those
of the four voices. The flute and oboe
can shake as quickly as the treble, and
the bassoon take the speed of the tenor. It
is open to anyone to adopt or reject my
advice; and though such subtleties may be
regarded as useless by some of my readers,
I know that those who have a delicate taste,
ripe judgment and much experience, will not be
altogether against me.
" Every shake begins with an appoggiatura
7.
§
which before its note and is taken from above
is
or below, as explained before. The end of every
shake consists of two little notes near the note of
the shake and are joined to it in the same
speed. See Ex. 2. They are called in German
'
Nachschlag' (after-blow). Sometimes these two
little notes are written (see Ex. 3) but when ;
there only a single note (see Ex. 4), both the

is
appoggiatura and the termination are implied.
Without them the shake would be neither perfect
nor brilliant :
QnANTZ, 1752.
|s*c A —
tr. tr
§ Ex. 2. Ex. 3. Ex. 4.

ORNAMENTATION 181
" § 8. The appoggiatura

of a shake is sometimes
as quick as the other notes of the shake for
;
example, when a new phrase begins with a shake,

after a rest. This appoggiatura, whether long or
short, must always be accented but the shake and
;
termination must be slurred.

" § 13. When a shake precedes a close, be it in
the middle or at the end of a piece, one cannot
after the shake and its termination introduce an
appoggiatura before the final note for example, if
;
you are shaking on a D, to end on a C, and

before this last C you introduce a D
appoggiatura,
the effect will be stale and the expression low.
This fault would not be committed by a musician
of taste."
This is all perfectly clear and to the point.
If, however, Quantz were writing at the present
time, he would not be so imprudent as to give

such an example as his Ex. 1, where the shake
apparently begins by the lower note. Of course,
he only intends to show the number of
repercussions and he has already explained
;
without the possibility of a doubt that all shakes

begin with an appoggiatura. Nevertheless, one
in search of an excuse to play shakes the
wrong way might quote this example. It has
been done.
In Chap. viii. (Appoggiature), § 14, Quantz
mentions amongst the " Kleine Manieren " which
may ornament the appoggiatura, and "are
employed by the French to add brilliancy to their
pieces," two " Demi Tremblements " (half-shakes).
They are shown amongst the examples on
page 129, Exx. (a) and (b), and require no further
explanation.
—
Few of the examples given in F. W. Marpurg's
" Die Kunst das Klavier zu spielen " (1750-56)
offeranything new. Several are alike the signs;
only differ. The last example shows a long

appoggiatura treated according to the general rule,
which makes the shake seem short, and late in
coming :
Marpurg, 1756.
tr
§
Le Tremblement.
I** A*0
i
Le Tremblement
double.
*vO0
A
^f=jl
m
ORNAMENTATION I8 3
u«o
iLe Tremblement
appuyg ou pr£par£.
»vxj
Weneed not give in extenso the long chapter on

"
the shake contained in C. Ph. E. Bach's " Versuch
(1753), most of which would only be a repetition
of what we have seen already. The following
quotations, many of them compressed, must
suffice :
" § 1. The shake is now used much more freely

than formerly.
" § 2. It should be applied most carefully,
especially in expressive pieces.
"
§§ 3, 4. Four kinds of shakes are used
in the
art of clavier playing each has a particular sign.
;
However, they are frequently all indicated by it.

or by a cross.
"
§ 5. The correct sign for an ordinary shake is
Ex. 1.
— — —
" On long notes the sign is lengthened :
Ex,2
-^^=
" The shake
begins with the note above. It is
therefore superfluous to add a small note unless
a long appoggiatura is intended :
tr
Ex. 3.
" § 6. Sometimes two little notes from under

are added to it. They are called Nachschlag
(Termination), and add much brilliancy to the
shake :
Ex. 4.
They are also indicated by the sign **f, but it

resembles so nearly that for a long mordent, that
I think it would be better to use the sign /*w only,
to avoid confusion.
"
§ 7. Trills are the most difficult of ornaments.
All cannot succeed with them. They should be
started in youth. Their execution must before
all be smooth and swift. A quick shake is always
preferable to a slow one. In sad pieces; the shake
can be done somewhat slower but otherwise a ;
rapid trill adds much to the beauty of a piece. As

to strength and weakness, this must be adjusted
according to the feeling of the phrase in which the
trill occurs.
ORNAMENTATION 185
" § 8. In practising the trill,one must lift the

fingers evenly, but not too high. One should begin
it slowly, and gradually get it quicker, but always
even. The nerves must be lax, otherwise a

goaty and unequal trill will be the result. The
higher note, when it occurs for the last time,
should be snapped (geschnellet) ; that is to say,
after the stroke, the finger is sharply curved, the
point glides towards the front of the key, and is
abruptly withdrawn.
" § 13. A shake on a tolerably long note should
always have a termination, whether the following
note be higher or lower. If the following note
proceeds by skip, the termination must be added
(Ex. 5). On short notes, the termination will go
better when the following note rises a second
(Ex. 6), than when it descends a second (Ex. 7):
Execution.
" In very slow movements, the shakes in Ex. 8

might have terminations, although the quick notes
after the dots could serve for that purpose. The
correct execution of such shakes, with terminations,
will be shown in the following paragraph, when
dotted notes are considered. There is no obligation,
however, to give a termination to these shakes, if
they are properly sustained :
Ex. 8.
3=S
———
" § 14. Dotted notes, followed by a short note
ascending, should have a termination to their
shake :
But whereas the

Ex. 9,
m
last note of the termination is
^
usually joined to the following note with the greatest

rapidity :
Ex. 10. s tfcafcz:
it is not so in the case of dotted notes, because
a very small space must be left between the

last note of the termination and the note
following :
Ex. 11.
i
This space need only be just long enough for

one to hear that the termination and the following
note are two separate things."
[C. Ph. E. Bach is at some pains to explain all this,
because he has not as yet explained the execution
of dotted notes, of which it is merely a consequence,
Moreover, he has omitted to note in his example
(Ex. 11) the little space he speaks of. This space,
or rest, is also a consequence of the dot. The
ORNAMENTATION 187
case being of interest, the writer ventures to give

a more thorough solution of Exx. 8 and 1 1 :
Ex. 12.
m
Adagio molto.
jfe
(Ex. 8.) Explained by Author.
I
(Ex. 11.) Explained by Author.
" § 14 {continued). It is wrong to combine the

termination of the shake on a dotted note with
the quick note following (see Ex. 13). If the
composer wants such an interpretation, he should
write it out clearly :
(.wrong.)
Ex. 13.
188 i
" § 15. Since the termination must be played at
the same speed as the shake, it follows that the
second finger of the right hand, and the thumb, are
not suitable to play shakes with a termination, as
the crossing of fingers necessary for the termination
could hardly be done nimbly enough, and the end
of the best trill could be spoiled thereby.
" § 16. The shake without termination suits
descending passages (Ex. 14) and short notes
(Ex. 15) when several shakes follow one another
;
(Ex. 16) when one or several short notes follow,

;
which take, as it were, the place of the termination

(Ex. 17). According to the above, the tempo of
an example such as Ex. 18 must not be very slow
In triplets, also, the termination had better be left
out (Ex. 19). In very slow tempo the first three
shakes might possibly have a termination, but the
last never " : —
Ex. 14. Ex. 15.
3E^p 5=e
i
Ex. 16. Ex. 17.
ORNAMENTATION 189
[In Ex. 15, the notes with shakes, being dotted,

must be treated as explained at § 14. There must
be a rest between them and the following note.
The same remark applies to Ex. 17 a, d, e, and/.]
" § 17. A moderately good ear would in itself be
sufficient to decidewhether shakes ought to have a
termination or not. I have given these numerous
examples to help beginners and for the sake of
thoroughness."
As we are all beginners we ought to be
thankful to him ! Note the implied information
in the following paragraph, that phrases under a slur
should not be ornamented.
" § 20. Amongst the faults of which the shake
is often the innocent cause, the first to be exposed
is this in such phrases as those of Ex. 20
: :
Ex. 20.
f*T- Lri i
r^fiFEia
many burden the first note with a trill, although the
shirs usually placed over such passages ought to deter
them from doing so. However strong might be the
temptation, such notes must not have trills. It is
indeed singular that by corrupted taste the best
and most melodious phrases should be spoiled.
Most of the faults occur with long sustained notes.
People are wont to enliven them with shakes.
Their spoilt ear requires continual excitement.
It perceives nothing except a clatter. One can see
from this that such faults are committed by those
who are incapable of singing mentally, or of
starting a note impressively and sustaining it. On
the clavichord as well as on the harpsichord, the
sound continues if the notes are not played too
short. One instrument may be better than
—
i go 17TH AND i8th CENTURY MUSIC
another in this respect. In France, where the
clavichord is so remarkably little known, most
of the pieces are written for the harpsichord.
Nevertheless, the French music is full of bindings
and slurs indicated by curved lines. Supposing
the tempo is too slow or the instrument too bad
to sustain the sound, it is always worse to try to
revive a note, overdrawn and exhausted, by a trill,
than to lose something of the latter part of that
note, which loss can be more than counterbalanced
by skilful playing. In music many things occur
which require the help of the imagination, because
they cannot be clearly heard. For example, in a
concerto with a full accompaniment, the soloist
always loses such notes as must be accompanied
fortissimo, and those which are in unison with the
tutti. Intelligent listeners supply whatever is
thus lost, through their imagination, and it is these
listeners that we should endeavour to please
before all.
"§ Other faults occurwhen a lame termination
21.
is appended to a trill (Ex. 21) [the Trill (a) would
not fit at (b) (see par. 14] when a superfluous note
;
is added to the termination, which at once renders it
objectionable (Ex. 22) [the bad" note is marked

thus + ] :
(+)
Ex. 21. 53
(a) (b) Ex. 22.
when the trills are not sustained in spite of the

rule that all trills (except half-shakes, i.e.,
Prall-Trillern) must be continued during the full
value of the notes on which they are when a trill ;
ORNAMENTATION 191
which requires a preparation is jumped on without

the required appoggiatura, or when the latter is not
properly connected with the trill when insolent,
;
noisy shakes are made, in a phrase which should

be languid and weak when, finally, one feels
;
bound to underline every note of some length with

a trill, one commits faults as hateful as they are
common. The latter are those silly little trills
which have been already alluded to in the
Introduction, § 10."
Here is the passage is question. The author
has been mentioning the stiffening of the left hand
resulting from continually playing in octaves when
accompanying on the figured bass :
" The master seeks to compensate this stiffness

of the left hand in the right hand, by teaching
his pupils, particularly in the Adagios and most
expressive pieces, the fine art of richly decorating
every corner with a sickening surfeit of silly little
trills, alternating with pedantic old ornaments
and runs both inappropriate and out of place, in
which the fingers seem to have gone crazy.
" § 22. The shake from below is indicated as
shown at Ex. 23 (a) its execution is explained
;
at (b). It is also sometimes indicated as at (c)

and (d): —
Ex. 23.
or with the mark for a plain shake, in which case

the player may employ it if he chooses.
" § 23. As this shake requires many repercussions,
it is only proper to long notes.
— — ——
ig2 17th AND i8th CENTURY MUSIC
" § 24. Ex. 24 shows how the termination can
be used after a long shake :
r**v [Execution, A. D.]
-£2-
>-»-*-
Ex. 24. =P-»* 4=P
=£tt
" § a succession of skips, the ordinary-

26. In
shake on account of the sharp definition
is best,
required, which introductory notes from below or
above would impair :
-o-
Ex. 25. qaz
bS-
" § 27. The shake from above is indicated as

shown at Ex. 26 (a) ; its execution is given at (b) :
G**v
Ex. 26.
"
§ The
Half-shake, or Sudden shake (Prall-
30.
Triller) indicated by clavier players, and
is
executed as shown in Ex. 27, where the example

clearly demonstrates its effect and peculiarity :
Ex. 27. Bl
—*r— *- —3=*
;
m-j-t
"
§ 31. As the half-shake connects the note
upon which it stands with the preceding note, it
ORNAMENTATION 193
follows that it cannot be used on separated

(staccato) notes
" 32. This is the most indispensable and
§
enjoyable, but at the same time the most difficult
of all ornaments. If not perfectly played, it
either does not come out or seems lame and
poor, which is the very reverse of its nature. One
cannot slowly demonstrate its performance to a
pupil. It must spring with a bound this springing
;
alone makes it effective. It should be done

according to the directions of § 7, but with such
extraordinary rapidity that the notes can hardly
be distinguished one from another. In this way,
such a remarkable sharpness is obtained that the
sharpest ordinary trill would seem dull in
comparison. Like the short appoggiatura, this
sudden shake can be made on short notes. It is
performed so rapidly that it does not seem to take
away the smallest fraction of the value of the
principal note, which must still absolutely coincide
with the time-beats. After all, this shake does not
sound nearly as frightening as it would appear were
all its small notes written out in full. It renders
the execution sprightly and brilliant. If necessary,
one could dispense with all other shakes, replacing
them by other light ornaments without harm to
the performance but these sudden shakes cannot
;
be dispensed with. However well were all else

done, if they were missing one could not feel
satisfied.
"
§ 33- Since the sudden shake must above all
be played easily and rapidly, those fingers which
can trill best should be used for it. It follows that
liberties must often be taken with the usual
method of fingering in order to get the best trills ;
— ——

but, in so doing, one must take care lest the
execution of the passage should suffer :
4 3 4 3 4 3 4 3 4 3
3 2 3 2 3 2 3 2 3 2
-*-»-
^Sg ^&
Ex. 29.
" § 34. These sudden shakes cannot be used

otherwise than before a descending second, which
may come through an appoggiatura or a principal
note (Ex. 30). They are often used on short
notes (Ex. 31), or on such notes as have been
shortened by an appoggiatura (Ex. 32). When
they happen upon a pause of the usual kind, one
keeps the appoggiatura very long, and terminates
very abruptly, with a sudden shake, immediately
afterwards withdrawing the fingers from the key
(Ex.33):—
Ex. 30. Ex. 31. Ex. 32. Ex. 33.
1^3= =H=
1- e£ 3=t
-*r>- -1
frF
-*-*-
Ex. 33.
jÊgggjSEifefl
1
~%i
(Execution.
1
—A. D.)
§ 35- The
" sudden shake is often found in
passages where three or more notes descend :
Ex. 34.
" 36. Apropos of the execution of these shakes,

§
it may be remarked that upon the piano-forte, to
ORNAMENTATION 195
play them softly is of the most extreme difficulty.
The requisite snapping (Schnellen) of the fingers
cannot be done without some violence, which
involves hard blows upon this instrument. To
make matters worse, this shake, whether alone or
in company with a turn, often comes after an
appoggiatura, and consequently must be played
piano. This difficulty arises with all Schnellen,
and particularly here, where the sharpest kind of
Schnellen is required. I doubt whether it would
be possible to avoid hardness upon the pianoforte,
in playing these shakes, even with the greatest
amount of study."
The half-shake or sudden shake was a great
favourite with C. Ph. E. Bach. It was not so
much in favour in former times. The sign ~ which
he specializes for it was frequently used to indicate
ordinary shakes. It is found, however, in the
works of Couperin, J. S. Bach, and others, in
places where only the half-shake could be placed.
Couperin and Tosi have explained it. It is the
" tr " of Frescobaldi, and one of the meanings of
the sign 5== so frequently used in the English
virginal music. Its shortness fits it admirably for
the contrapuntal style, as it does not obscure the
main note.
Here ends the study of the Shake. Succeeding
writers, such as Leopold Mozart, Turk, and others,
do not bring any new light on the subject. The
shakes from " Dom Bedos's " plates will be seen,
one might almost say " heard," in the Appendix ;
those of Beethoven were just like them, for there

was no change until the pianoforte virtuoso,
Hummel, about 1820, preconised the trill beginning
with the main note.
SECTION III.— The Tremolo, Close-Shake.
Organ-shake, Vibrato, Sting, Old Shake, Modern
Shake or Trill.
Italian : Trillo, Tremolo, Tremoletto, Vibrato,
Ribattuta.
French Martellement, Balancement,
: Verre Casse,
Plainte, Langueur, Battement, Tremblement
sans appuyer.
German : Mordent, Bebung, Schwebung.
These ornaments give emphasis to a note by
repeatedly interrupting or altering its sound. If
the pitch is unaltered we have the old Italian
Trillo, Organ-shake, or Tremolo. If the pitch is
slightly altered, as can be done with the voice,
wind and stringed instruments, and the clavichord,
we have the Vibrato, Close-shake, or Bebung.
As keyboard instruments other than the
clavichord are incapable of producing this effect,
they imitate it by alternating the principal sound
with that of the next note. If the note above is
used we have the Tremolo or Tremoletto of the
early Italians, which is the same thing as the
common modern shake, but must not be confused
with the shake of the Bach period. When the note
below the principal is used, the Beat or Mordent
is produced. This ornament, on account of its great
importance, will be treated separately hereafter.
The following example of a Tremolo or Old Shake
is found in Zacconi's "Practica di Musica," 1592 :
—
ElPi
m f— ulr — r =±E
ORNAMENTATION 197
In Diruta's " II Transylvano," 1593, mention is

made of light repercussions of the key producing
a true Tremolo and intended to make up for the
shortness of sound of the virginals.
The following Old Shakes are taken from the
examples of Tremoli and Tremoletti given in that
book :
Tremoli.
jfM^^^JBSife ^^g Jg ^l
i IGt 5=E ***>

•X^X^M^M X*Ex*S?j£z, m
Tremoletti.
Giulio Caccini, in the Preface to his " Nuove

Musiche," 1601, gives explanations of the vocal
Trillo and Ribattuta, which are quoted in the
following extract from Prsetorius.
—
;

Michael Prsetorius's " Syntagma," Book iii., 1619,
page 237 :—
" Trillo : Is of two kinds The first is performed
:
in unison (i.e., on one single note), when many

notes are very quickly repeated one after another :
Ex. 1.
i r 3=t m j5=»- tt -ftHM=&

*=M=mz=Mz £ :*z3t
Ve
The is performed in various ways.

other Trillo
And impossible to learn to execute a
indeed it is
Trillo in the right way from written directions.

Let it be done viva Praeceptoris voce
therefore
et ope, it sung and executed before
and have
a person, which is the only way to learn it, as one
bird learns from the others, by imitation. For
this reason, I have never seen it explained by any
Italian authors, only excepting Giulio Caccini
they only indicate the proper places for it by a t, tr,
or tri. Nevertheless, I have thought it necessary
to give a few examples so that the hitherto ignorant
'
tyro may see and understand to a certain extent
'
what is meant by a Trillo : —

Ex. 2.
Ex. 3.
ie^3r-$-*tt1t&-&&&
F- -*_*-*_ :ta=t»;
$
m :fc=fe=fc=fc=fci3*=&=fc;
d s ZM d d S —d-
" And these ornaments are found in Claudio

Monteverde."
ORNAMENTATION 199
In 3, the first four notes show the

Ex.
which we shall see later.
Ribatkita,
The following examples show how the Trillo
should be placed, and some of the ornaments
which may be used before and after it :
Ex. 4. tr
m — r— • m-
i ZZ2Z. -a
Ex.
^^S^^
5.
tr
±=*Z
Ex.6.
tr
^3£ &^: £=p= 3S=*s=\-
i 3=tZ -4_M—<21
Ex.
i ps
7.
tr
jfcaz fe-M-» ^=f
-M
-»—*—*- _d_*±J:
m
At page 235, Praetorius explains the Tremolo
and Tremoletto mostly by examples, but also with
these few interesting words (Ex. 8) :
" Tremolo, or Tremulo

nothing else but the : is
shaking of the voice over a note the organists call :
it Mordanten or Moderanten —
Ex. 8.
Tremulus Ascendens. Descendens.
(a)
^ ^~^~S
'
â»s This Tremulo

the ascendens.
is not so good as
—
20o 17th AND i8th CENTURY MUSIC

Tremoletti.
w
^m ^=f£
w (/)
^^gl g=*=
3^££ g=p^ s^
te) (*)
I ^m^^z^
-^~y~ »
(0
^jT^ ^^^g^ (A)
" And these are used more for the organ and
iSEEsEF
1
Instrumenta pennata than for men's voices."

The Instrumenta pennata are virginals.
The example at (b) is a true mordent.
Pratorius says that it is not so good as the
ascendens at (a) but this is not the opinion
;
which prevailed later, for in the 18th century the

ascendens had become quite obsolete, whilst
the descendens was very frequently used.
Exx. (c) and (h) are the plain notes ; the others
the tremoletti.
Playford, in his " Introduction," 1654, explains
the Trillo and Groppo, after Caccini, which
explanations need not be repeated but he also ;
gives elucidations of his own, well worth quoting :
" Our author being short in setting forth this

chief or most usual Grace in singing, called the
Trill, which, as he saith very right, is by a beating
in the Throat on the vowel (a'h) some observe that
it is rather the shaking of the Uvula or Pallate on
the Throat, in one sound, upon a Note For the ;

ORNAMENTATION 201
attaining of this, the most surest and ready way is

by imitation of those who are perfect in the same
yet, I have heard of some that have attained it by
this manner, in singing a plain Song, of 6 notes
up and 6 down, they have in the midst of every
Note beat or snaked with their finger upon their
Throat, which by often practice came to do the
same Notes exactly without. It was my chance
lately to be in company with three gentlemen at a
Musical Practice, which sung their parts very well,
and used this Grace (called the Trill) very exactly.
I desired to know their Tutor, they told me I was
their Tutor, for they never had any other but this
my Introduction : That (I answered) could direct
them but in the Theory, they must needs have a
better help in the Practick, especially in attaining
to sing the Trill so well. One of them made this
Reply, (which made me smile) I used, said he, at
my first learning the Trill, to imitate that breaking
of a Sound in the Throat, which Men use when
they Leur their Hawks, as he-he-he-he-he; which
he used slow at first, and by often practice on
several Notes, higher and lower in sound, he
became perfect therein. The Trill or shake of the
Voice, being the most usual Grace, is made in
Closes, Cadences, and other places, where by a
long Note an Exclamation or Passion is expressed,
there the Trill is made in the latter part of any
such Note but most usually upon binding Notes
;
in Cadences and Closes, and on that Note that

precedes the closing Note. Those who once attain
to the perfect use of the Trill, other Graces will
become easie."
In the "Table of Graces proper to the Viol or
Violin," given in the same book, the following
— — ——

explanation of the Close shake is given. This is
the vibrato proper; the notation shows that a
slight variation in pitch is intended :
£ is»i*»n*ja
Acloft Shake fxplan;
(Observe the dot used as a sign for this Grace.)
Christopher Simpson, in his " Division- Viol,"

1659, gives the same example as above, and
explains its performance thus :
" § 1 6. Close-shake is that when we shake the

Finger as close and near the sounding Note as
possible may be, touching the String with the
Shaking finger so softly and nicely that it make no
variation of Tone. This may be used where no
other Grace is concerned."
The Latin name for Close shake is Tremor pressus.
In § 15 he explains the tremolo thus :
" Some also affect a Shake or Tremble with the

Bow, like the Shaking-stop of an Organ, but the
frequent use thereof is not (in my opinion) much
commendable."
Thomas Mace in "
Musick's Monument," 1676,
has the following delightful explanations of Lute
Shakes :
Page 103 " The Shake, is 2 ways to be

:
performed, either Hard, or Soft, the Hard, (or

Tearing-Shake) is thus done, viz. If you shake any
String Open, you must first strike it with some
Right Hand Finger, and then be ready with the
Fore-Finger, of the Left Hand to pick it up, with
the very Tip (near the Nail) of your Finger and ;
ORNAMENTATION 203
so, by often, and quick picking up in that manner,

or (more plainly) Scratching It, in a Smooth,
Nimble, and Strong Agitation, you will have
performed It.
" The
Soft-Shake, is done, in all respects, like the
former, except the Tearing, and Scratching; and
only by Beating the String Strongly, and with a
Quick Motion, in the same place, as you did the
other which always must be in b, or c Frett and
; ;
if it be done Evenly, and Strongly, it gives a very

Pleasant Grace unto your Play.
" Some there are, (and many I have met with)
who have such a Natural Agility (in their nerves)
and Aptitude, to that Performance, that before
they could do anything else to purpose, they would
make a Shake, Rarely well. And some again can
scarcely ever Gain a Good Shake, by reason of the
unaptness of their Nerves, to that action but yet;
otherwise come to Play very well.

" I, for my own part, have had occasion to break,
both my Arms ; by reason of which, I cannot make
the Nerve-Shake well, nor Strong ; yet, by a certain
Motion of my Arm, I have gain'd such a Contentive
Shake, that sometimes my Scholars will ask me,
How they shall do to get the like ? I have then no
better Answer for Them, than to tell Them, They

must first Break their Arm, as I have done; and
so possibly, after that, {by Practice) they may get
My manner of Shake.'''
Page 109 " The Sting, is another very Neat,
:
and Pritty Grace (but not Modish in These Days)

;
yet, for some sorts of Humours, very Excellent;

and is thus done, (upon a Long Note, and a Single
String) first strike your Note, and so soon as It is
struck, hold your Finger (but not too Hard) stopt
upon the Place, (letting your Thumb loose) and
wave your Hand
(Exactly) downwards, and upwards,
several Times, from the Nut, to the Bridge, by which
Motion, your Finger will draw, or stretch the String
a little upwards, and downwards, so as to make
the Sound seem to Swell, with pritty unexpected
Humour, and gives much Contentment, upon
Cases."
This is the true vibrato, and the effect of it
is very much like that of the Bebung on the
clavichord.
De Machy, in his " Pieces de Viole," 1685, says:
"The Aspiration, also named Plainte, is made
by varying the fingerupon the fret. Some
people will call this mewing by allusion."
This is the Vibrato proper but why does he
;
call Aspiration, a name which other musicians

it
of the time give to an entirely different thing and ;
which, moreover, not at all suggestive ?

is
" The Tremblement sans appuyer (shake without
pressing) is made with two fingers held close to
one another, and pressing only very slightly upon
the string."
This is the Close shake of Playford, Simpson,
and many others but again under an unusual
;
and misleading name. De Machy is most trouble-

some in that way.
In his " Pieces de Violes," 1696, Marin Marais
calls the Close shake with two fingers upon
the frets, " Pince ou flattement," and indicates it
by a suggestive wavy line The true vibrato,
with one finger, which is principally used beyond
the frets, he calls " Plainte," and indicates thus
also a very good sign.
ORNAMENTATION 205
Jean Rousseau, " Traite de la Viole," 1687,

says :
" The '

Batement ' is made when two fingers
being held close together, one presses upon the
string, and the other beats it very lightly.
" The Batement imitates a certain sweet
'
'
agitation of the voice this is why it is used on all

;
notes long enough to permit it, and it must last as

long as the note. [This is the Close shake.] The
'
Langueur is made by varying the finger upon a
'
fret. It is usually made when the note has to be

played with the fourth finger, and that the time
permits it. This grace is used instead of the
" Batement," which cannot be made when the little
finger is pressing."
This is very clear ; but Jean Rousseau was not
giving sound advice when saying that the vibrato
should be made upon
every note long enough to
permit it! This practice has unfortunately been
carried down to the present day.
The " Balancement " in the following example
from Michel rAffilard, " Principes tres-faciles pour
apprendre la musique," c. 1698, shows a true
tremolo, indicated by the sign which viol-players
use for the vibrato :
Balancement. f
i Z
V V V 'b-ttt
Brossard, in his " Dictionaire de Musique," 1703,

Article " Trillo," sign tr., after describing the true
shake under that name, adds :
" But, it is also very often, in Italian music, the

sign that one must beat several times on the same
note, first somewhat slowly, then ending with as
— —
much lightness and rapidity as the throat can
make. Example :
" And this is properly the veritable Italian

'
can be noted down in
Trillo,' at least as far as it
writing, for it must be admitted that our example

can only give a very coarse idea of it, in comparison
with the quickness with which it can be done, and
that a good master can teach better than all that
could be written about it."
Hotteterre-le-Romain, in his " Principes de la
Flute Traversiere," explains very clearly how to
make the vibrato on the flute. He calls it
" Flattement " or " Tremblement mineur." The
effect produced by following his directions is a
waving of the sound, which is alternately flattened
a little and brought back to its normal pitch.
P. F. Tosi, in his " Treatise on Singing," 1723,
mentions the vocal Trillo in a way which shows
that it had become comparatively rare at that time.
He did not like it, if we may judge from this :
" What might not be said of him who invented

the prodigious art of singing like the crickets ? Who
ever could have imagined, before the introduction
of that fashion, that ten or twelve quavers in a row
could be rolled one after another by a certain
shaking of the voice, which has for some time
passed under the name of Mordente fresco ? : —
ORNAMENTATION 207
He will be still more strongly inclined to detest

the invention of laughing in singing, or that
of singing like the hens after they have laid
an egg. Is there no other little animal worthy
of being imitated, so as to cast a little more
"
ridicule on our profession ?
This is the last we hear of the vocal Trillo !
Francesco Geminiani, in " A
Treatise of Good
Taste, &c," 1749, treating of the " Close Shake "
Sign (.**•), says: "This cannot possibly be
described by notes. To perform it, you must
press the finger strongly upon the string of the
instrument, and move the wrist in and out
slowly and equally. When it is long continued,
swelling the sound by degrees, drawing the
bow nearer to the bridge, and ending it very
strong, it may express majesty, dignity, &c.
But making it and softer, it may
shorter, lower,
denote affliction, &c, and when it is made
fear,
on short notes, it only contributes to make them
sound more agreeable; and for this reason it
should be made use of as often as possible."
Here again is a piece of doubtful advice, for it
would lead to continual vibrato, and then how
could it express majesty, and fear and affliction in
the proper places if it is used all the time ?
But we have now finished with the vibrato.
It is the " Bebung " which will monopolise our
attention. It is that form of vibrato peculiar to
the clavichord, and one of the points which give
to that instrument its wonderful fascination.
J. S. Bach occasionally indicates it thus '....:,
:
but he has left no instructions for its performance.

The occasions to use it abound in his music.
Marpurg calls it " Balancement," and indicates
— —— —
it as above. C. Ph. E. Bach, in his " Versuch,"
&c, explains performance thus
its :
" A
long and expressive note requires a
'
Bebung,' during which the finger remains on
the key and evenly rocks it; the sign for it
is thus :
This explanation is hardly sufficient, but we

shall get additional light elsewhere. In his
Preface, § 11, C. Ph. E. Bach speaks of the
harpsichord, pianoforte, and clavichord, and
comparing the two latter, he says :
" But, I believe, nevertheless, that a good

clavichord, except that its tone is weaker, has all
the beauties of the pianoforte, and in addition the
'
Bebung and the power of sustaining the
'
sounds, for after playing a note I can still give a

fresh pressure."
There is therefore a difference between the
" Bebung," a vibrato, and the " Tragen der Tone,"
which is not a re-striking, but a reviving of the
tone produced by allowing the tangent of the
clavichord almost to leave the string for a space
of time so short that the ear cannot appreciate it,
the finger remaining all the time on the key. The
clavichord players, however, did not often make
a distinction between the two effects, and used the
word "Bebung" for both. In practice, the first
often leads to the second.
Turk's " Klavierschule," 1789, has a paragraph
on the " Bebung " which is very valuable :
" § 88. The Bebung (French Balancement;

' '
:
Italian : Tremolo) can only be employed with

ORNAMENTATION 209
good effect on long notes, and in pieces of a sad

character. It is usually indicated by the sign
given at (a), or by the word tremolo, as at (b).
The execution would be about as shown at
(c) and (d) :
" One keeps the finger on the key as long as the

value of the note requires, and endeavours by
gentle, frequently repeated pressures to reinforce
the tone. I need hardly remark that there must
be a relaxation after each pressure, but the finger
must not leave the key.
" This ornament can only be done on the
clavichord, and indeed upon a very good one.
" One must not use the Bebung too often, and
guard against the hateful exaggeration coming
from too violent pressure."
SECTION IV.-Mordent, Beat (%™JZTc)-

Italian Mordente, one of the Groppi and
:
Tremoli, A cciaccatura.
German Mordant or Mordent, Beisser, Zusammen-
:
schlag.
French Martellement,
: Pincement, Pince, Batte-
ment, Mordant.
This ornament consists of the rapid alternation of
a note with the next note below it. The interval may
be a semitone or a whole-tone, according to the
scale. The main note is played first, and bears the
accent. There may be one or more repercussions.
As this ornament does not alter the melodic or
harmonic character of the principal note, but
—— —
rather emphasises it, it is equally suitable to the
early contrapuntal and to the later harmonic
music. The note above the principal is sometimes
used instead of the note below the ornament ;
then becomes very similar to the common modern

shake, but this form had become obsolete in the
18th century.
Nicolaus Ammerbach, in his " Orgel oder
Instrumental Tabulatur," 1571, explains the
mordent excellently in this way:
" In an ascending phrase, for example E to F,
E will alternate with D
and F with E.
" In a descending phrase, F to E, F alternates
with G, and E with F" :
Nicolaus Ammerbach, 1571.
p=^SB=
2t
qpq=
M~* S » ^ss
The true mordent and the old shake are very
clearly differentiated here, and the rule given can
be applied very frequently in the music of that
period.
Diruta, in " II Transilvano," 1593, has mordents
amongst his Groppi, but they are more like
divisions than mordents proper, for instead of
stopping on the principal note, they lead straight-
way to the following :
DlRDTA I593 '
Groppi. '
^= 3B5 Z3Z
^££5i£3^*SE #.*„*.#
333
Groppi.
m *i*J-mJ-^ XJ*
S3E2S
ORNAMENTATION 211
Prsetorius's only example of a mordent was

shown at page 199.
The lute-players called the mordent Tiret, Pince,
Beat, Beisser. Here is Thomas Mace's (1676)
explanation of it :
Page 105 " The Beate, is your Letter struck

:
;
(be it what it will) and so soon as it is struck, that

sound must be Falsifyed, always into a Half Note
beneath, by taking up your Finger, (as if you
would Back-fall the False Note, from that stopped
Letter) and strongly, so shaked, and again; yet,
at last, the same Finger, must rest down, in the
1st True note. As for Example.
"If I would make a Beate upon d, on the 4th
String, I must at the same time, (together with
that d) stop'c, on the same string ; and, so soon as
I have struck the d, I must Twitch it up, and by
the Twitch, cause the c to Sound, and so continue

in that Quick Motion, as if I did only intend to
Shake the c yet, so strongly knocking down my
;
Finger into d, that at every Knock, or Motion d

may be equally heard with c and when I have
;
thus continued Beating, so long as my Time will

allow me, I must then give the last knock into d,
with all the strength I can so that d must be
;
Eminently heard at the very last For you must

:
know this, that whatever your Grace be, you

must in your Fare-well, express the True Note
perfectly, or else your pretended Grace, will prove
a Disgrace."
The " Table of Graces proper to the Viol or
Violin," in Playford's " Introduction," 1655, and
that in Christopher Simpson's "Division-Viol,"
— ——
1659, both give the following example, which is a
mordent preceded by an appoggiatura :
A shaked Beat. Explanation.
Chambonnieres, in his " 1st Book of Pieces,"

1670, was the first to use the sign *+v for a mordent.
It was used later by Couperin, J. S. Bach, and
many other composers :
Chambonni£res, 1670.
1
Pincement.
-*—=i=W^
I
w
In the " Harpsichord
Pieces " of Monsieur
Le Begue, 1677, the sign and execution of
Paris,
the mordent are the same as in Chambonnieres.
The name pincement became pince, and the latter
form remained in use in France until the
19th century.
In the Introduction to the " Pieces de Viole "
of De Machy, 1685, the mordent, which is there
called " martellement," is thus explained :
" The Martellement is to lift the finger from the

letter or note, assoon as it is heard, and to put it
down again at the same timer
It is of course impossible to lift the finger and
put it down again at the same time but the ;
ORNAMENTATION 213
author intends to emphasise the extreme rapidity

which is one of the most important features of
this ornament.
De Machy also explains the " double martelle-
ment" as being made in the same way, only
doubled.
Marin Marais, "Pieces de Viole," 1686, calls
the mordent " Batement," and marks it by a
cross so does De Caix d'Hervelois (" Pieces de
;
Violes," 1710). Antoine Forqueray le Pere

(c. 1700) also uses a cross, but calls the
mordent " Pince."
Jean Rousseau, in his " Traite de la Viole," 1687,
describes the mordent, which he calls " martelle-
ment," like De Machy, thus :
" The martellement is done when the finger

playing a note first beats two or three times more
quickly and lightly than for a shake, and remains
on the fret afterwards.
" The martellement is always inseparable from
the appoggiatura, for the appoggiatura must

always be terminated by a martellement. It is
an ornament which the voice does naturally
by a slight agitation of the throat, in finishing
an appoggiatura, and the instruments must
imitate it."
It should be remarked that the author is
exaggerating when he says that every appoggiatura
must be followed by a mordent. It is frequently
done, after an appoggiatura from below but after
;
one from above a shake is preferable, and both

appoggiature were often used plain by Rousseau's
contemporaries.
Henry d'Anglebert, " Pieces de Clavecin," 1689,
uses a comma after the note to indicate the
— — —
214 i7 TH AND i8th CENTURY MUSIC
mordent, which he calls " Pince." It is clear from
his examples that the number of repercussions was
to be greater on a long note :
D'Anglebert, 1689.
P=E
Pince. Autre.
Tremblement
1
et pince .
G. Muffat, Preface to the pieces for viols

entitled " Florilegium," Augsburg, 1695, gives
the following explanation of the mordent :
G. Muffat, 1695.
+ or
i&
^=i=P=i=P= =*=S=Pc:
In the Rules for Graces of Purcell's " Harpsi-

chord Pieces," i6g6 (posthumous), the following
explanation of the mordent is given " A beat :
—P
mark'd thus ; explain'd thus " :-
¥^
This isa mordent preceded by an appoggiatura.
" The Compleat Flute Master, or the whole
Art of playing on y" Rechorder," anonymous,
London, c. 1700, has a quaint way of dividing his
shakes into "close shake" and "open-shake,"
the former being the true variety, the latter the
mordent. These appellations are logical enough on
the flute, for a shake must finish with the shaking
ORNAMENTATION 215
finger closing the hole, whilst the mordent, being

made with the note below, must end with the
shaking finger off the hole. The signs are :
" A close shake thus = an open shake, beat,

,
or sweetning thus +. After a close shake keep

your finger down, after an open shake keep your
finger up."
Francois Couperin seems to have considered
the mordent, which he calls " Pince," as the most
important grace for he gives it the first place
;
both in the Table of Graces prefacing his " First

Book of Harpsichord Pieces " (1713), and in his
" Methode " (1717). Unfortunately, Couperin
employs small notes of undetermined value to
explain his Pinces, and the way he writes them at
times might be construed by some as an excuse to
play them before the note. But the explanations
given in his " Methode " leave no doubt as to his
intentions. The following examples are taken from
the "Explanations" of his "Harpsichord Pieces":
Pieces de Clavecin. F. Couperin, .1713

-/-> Ex. 1. Ex. :
:oz
I T
PincS simple. Pince' double.
pip
Effet.
trtrfrf^
Ex. 3. "h Ex. 4. T*
5E SE
:E
Port de voix simple. Port de voix double.
iH ai
2^3 •P-P2-
—

Ex. 5.
—I- _t
1 m =i
Pinc£s di6s£s et b<5molis£s.
paEq^gjîi^Ba
Ex. 6.
X T*
I 4=
Pinc6 continu.
3=tt tzBJ P
The before C in Ex. 5 lowers the C# a
flat
semitone thus becomes C natural, not C flat.
; it
The following examples and explanations are

taken from Couperin's " Methode," 1717 :
"Mdthode."
'T1 ih E. Couperin, 1717.
Pincg-simple. Pincd-double.
iEffet.
*=e
KJ*: £ i*
"
Every mordent must be stopped on the note
upon which it is posed and to make it clear I use
;
the word Stopping-place,' which is marked here

'
below by a star; thus the beats, and the note

upon which one stops, must all be comprised in the
value of the principal note ': —
m -frfrf
Pinc£-double.
»
ORNAMENTATION 217
" The pince-double, in the playing of the organ
and harpsichord, takes the place of the martelement
[vibrato] in the bow instruments."
Theophilo Muffat, in his " Componimenti," has
the following very complete and perfect examples,
which leave nothing doubtful and require no
explanations. He also places the mordent first
amongst his ornaments :
Th. Muffat, 1726.
£=F
$ -P*=
s=
E^piiESÊ
Ov
$ S=2P=::^^P
-1 — "-f m^
iffi^
P f p f -*—*î-fi-r £Si
1 1
J=m-
tr^\\ 1—1
^
I
I
Mf Staccato.
if PSB*
fi=2±tt s=fe
E^^^^g:
' aj J:
f=P
J. Ph. Rameau, "Pieces de Clavecin," 1731,
uses the comma to indicate mordents (pinces).
——
2i8 17TH AND i8th CENTURY MUSIC

He places it to the right of the note, whilst the
same comma placed on the left side of the note
indicates the appoggiatura :
J. Ph. Rameau, 1731.
i Pincfi.
=t
Pinc£ et port de voix.
Ch. Dieupart (1731), Johann Mattheson (1739),

and Mondonville (c. 1745), use the same sign
and interpretation as Rameau. Marpurg (1756)
has a very complete table like Muffat, but gives
nothing new. It is rather interesting to see him
show so late the old English sign ^>; but he
perhaps gives it for the sake of completeness.
J. S. Bach, in the explanations of ornaments
written for his son, W. Friedemann Bach, 1720,
has the following mordents :
Ex. 1. Ex. 2 J. S. Bach, 1720.
i =t
Mordant. Trillo und mordant.
feilli=ss
Very little need be said about these. Bach
obviously wanted them to be very rapid, and on
the beat. The number of repercussions was left
to the player when the principal note was long
ORNAMENTATION 219
enough for more than one. He sometimes used

the sign ^v for a mordent, and it probably meant
a long mordent but considering his lack of system,
;
this cannot be depended upon. The context should

be studied before deciding. His use of the sign *%f
for a "trillo und mordant" (really a shake with
the common termination) is unfortunate for two
reasons the first is that the sign could easily be
:
mistaken for the mark of a long mordent, as the

difference in the position of the perpendicular
stroke, from the right end of the wavy line to the
middle, is so slight and the "second because the
;
termination of the shake thus indicated is not a

mordent, though it resembles one.
Quantz (" Versuch," &c, 1751), Chap, viii.,
J. J.
§ comprises the mordent amongst the " Kleine
14,
Manieren " which may ornament the appoggiatura,
and are " used by the French to add brilliancy to
their pieces." The examples have been given at
page 129, Exx. (c), (d), (/), (g). He calls the
first two " Pinces," the last two " Battements."
The reason of this difference in names is not clear.
We shall quote his § 15 entirely :—
" To give vivacity and brilliancy to notes
proceeding by skip, when an appoggiatura is not
practicable, one may also use Battements. The
first kind of battement [Ex. (/)], is made on the
flute with the tongue and finger movement at
the same time, and can be used on quick or slow
notes equally well but the last kind [Ex. (g)~\, is
;
more suitable for moderately slow notes than for

quick ones. It is necessary, however, that the
demisemiquavers be played with the utmost
possible speed, and for this reason the finger must
not be lifted high."
— —
One mustnot try too literally to use the " tongue
and finger at the same time," for then the lower
note only would sound. But, like De Machy, he
means to impress the student with the necessity of
playing the mordent with extreme rapidity.
C. Ph. E. Bach, in his " Versuch," &c, 1753,
devotes four pages and some thirty examples to
the mordent. As it is unnecessary to repeat what
has already been fully said, we shall only quote
those passages which contain something new. In
the following examples, the sign «* means a short
mordent <^v a mordent of any length over three
;
notes.
" 3.There is a special way of making the
§
mordent when it has to be very short. One plays
the two notes together (Ex. 1), immediately
releasing the lower and holding the upper one only.
This manner is not to be despised, but it must be
used much more rarely than the other mordent.
It —
occurs only ex abrupto i.e., without connection
at the beginning of a phrase or after rests.
(This is the Pince etouffe, Acciaccatura, or
Zusammenschlag) :
C. Ph. E. Bach, 1753-

Ex. 1. Ex. 2. Ex. 3.
P=#=F
B Ex. 2a.
-fast
Ex. 3a.
:
Ex. 4.
sly *|v
m -Fî
Ex.5.
si
1— P-»-
Ex.
=S=^
6.
**/
35E
i
ORNAMENTATION 221
" § 6. The mordent following an appoggiatura

must be played soft, according to the rule for the
execution of the appoggiatura.
§ 7, The mordent is used to fill up sustained
"
notes also as shown in the above examples on
;
notes tied over (Ex. 2), on dotted notes (Ex. 3),

on syncopations (Ex. 4). In the latter case
the mordent may be repeated on successive or
alternate notes. In the last two examples the
mordent is best introduced on the first syncopation
(Ex. 5), or on the first repetition of a preceding
tone (Ex. 6). In such syncopations the mordent
not only fills up, but at the same time adds
brilliancy to the notes.
" § 8. In such figures as Exx. 2 and 3, if the
tempo is so slow that even a long mordent is not
sufficient to fill up, one may divide these long
notes and re-strike them, playing as shown in
Exx. 2« and 3a. Such liberties, however, must
be used with caution ; one might thereby mar
the composer's design.
" This fault will be avoided when players realise
that with proper pressure and holding of the notes,
the tone of our instrument [the clavichord] can
be sustained much longer than they think. The
long mordents should not be allowed to hinder
the ringing of prolonged sounds, which happens
when they are continued too long, or applied
indiscriminately to every note of some length.
After a mordent intended to fill up, a short space of
time must always be left over, for the best performed
mordent becomes nauseous if it is directly
connected, like a shake, with the following note.
§ 9. To
" skipping and detached notes, the
mordent adds brilliance. In such cases it is
generally played short. One finds it over notes
which are important harmonically to establish
the key (Ex. 7), with certain passages in broken
chords (Ex. 8), and over the middle note of full
chords (Ex. g), where, if the note is long enough,
the long mordent can be used (Ex. 10). This
ornament occurs sometimes on staccato dotted
notes, when the dots are not held (Ex. 11), and
where rests follow thereon (Ex. 12) also when ;
after several short notes a longer one follows

(Exx. 13, 14):—
Ex. 7. C. Ph. E. Bach, 1753.
3E
wm
i *
-*tr
Ex.8.
I
Aft AY AY
mmEx. 9. Ex. 10.

Ssrfe^Ss
Ex. 11.
-4~-
5+3E
_^
-4>-W
Ex. 12.
AY
in -s^^F
(Execution, A. D.
Ex. 13. Ex. 14.
AY
i
-fti-
s
-o-jg —*- :S:
^=
" § 10. Amongst all ornaments the mordent is

the most frequently used in the bass, although
ORNAMENTATION 223
its sign is rarely marked there. It is used on

ascending (Ex. 15), on skips (Ex. 16),
notes
particularly when the bass jumps down an octave,
whether there be a cadence or not (Ex. 17).
"§ 11. The mordent, like the shake, takes the
accidentals required by the key. Often an
accidental is added for the sake of incisiveness
(Ex. 18) :—
C. Ph. E. Bach, 1753.
Ex. 15.
— —
separation of the mordent from the shake, for
one ought never to crowd ornaments behind one
another.
"In Ex. 19 the right way to treat such cases is
shown. The duration of the mordent depends on
the tempo, which, of course, cannot be fast, or
else this expedient would not be needed at all :
Ex. 19.
Adagio. Played thus: ,, C. Ph. E. Bach, 1753.
f\»w o*v 'f*
v
tnF=t=t
$ *5 ZZ2t M
r r r r r
" § 14. The mordent and the half-shake are
the reverse of one another in this respect, that the
latter can only be made on descending seconds
whilst the mordent can never be used thus. They
both fit well on seconds the mordent when they ;
ascend, the half-shake, when they descend. This

is clearly demonstrated in Ex. 20."
The later writers, having nothing new to teach
us, need not be quoted. only when we come It is
to Hummel, 1828, the great pioneer of confusion
and ignorance on this, our subject, that we find a
new departure. The mordent is left out altogether
from his explanations of graces, and its name
given to another ornament.
SECTION V. The Turn, Single Relish.

Italian : Circolo mezzo.
French Double, Cadence, Tour de Gosier, Double-

:
Cadence, Cadence sans tremblements.

German : Doppelschlag.
ORNAMENTATION 225
The turn consists of four notes the note above :
the principal, the

principal, the note below, the
principal again. Sometimes the order is reversed :
the note below comes first, the note above third.

This ornament has been in favour from the earliest
times to the present day. It is pretty, easy to
perform, and can be placed almost anywhere. It
can be abused in fact, it has been much abused.
;
The following explanations, though not exhaustive

(a volume could be written upon it), ought to be
sufficient to ensure its reasonable and effective
employment. It is often found as a termination
to the shakes in the 16th century. Examples can
be seen in " Ganassi," (page
1535 Diego 155);
O rtiz . 1553 (page 155); G. Diruta, 1593
(page 156), &c. most shakes end with
; in fact,
a turn. But itis also frequently used by itself,
among the divisions, under the form called by

the Italians circolo mezzo. In this case the turn
begins on the principal note, and either returns to
it (Ex. 1), or leads to the third above (Ex. 2),
or to the third below (Ex. 3). Sometimes the
principal note is held, when time allows, and the
turn ornaments the end of it, connecting it with the
sequel (Exx. 4, 5) :
Ex. 1. Ex. 2. Ex. 3.
^=F=
Sffis
i
Ex. 4.
W-m W
Ex_5.
m S=P=
— —
Chambonnieres, " Pieces de Clavecin," 1670,
example
gives the following :
i <^
p^=^
$ -1 1 E
In the original the last C is made a semiquaver,
an obvious mistake.
Thomas Mace, " The Lute," &c, 1676,
page 107, says " The Single Relish
: is .',
generally done upon the Ascension or Descension

of a 3d. Thus :
Thomas Mace, 1676.

Ascending a 3d. Thus. Descending a 3d. Thus.
Explain 'd. Thus.
" Note, That the 2d Note, upon which you

perform the Relish, has a Back-fall, which would
always be performed very strongly and smartly,
before you attempt the other 2 Notes; which is All
that is needful to be express'd, concerning the
Single Relish.''
In other words, the short appoggiatura which
begins the turn must be well accented.
J. H. D'Anglebert,
" Pieces de Clavecin," 1689,
has several forms of turns, exhibiting side by side
the old " division " turn, and the form that was
almost exclusively employed in the Bach period.
ORNAMENTATION 227
In Ex. 1 the first four notes are a true turn,
introducing a shake.
In Ex. 2 the turn is inverted.
In Ex. 3 we have the old turn, starting on the
main note and descending a third, followed by an
inverted turn introducing a shake.
In Ex. 4 it is again the old turn, followed by a
true turn introducing a shake.
In Ex. 5 the turn is simple, and employed in
the most usual manner.
In Ex. 6 the turn is also simple, but it is played
a little after the beat, thus giving special emphasis
to the harmony note : —
Ex. 1. Ex. 2.
D'Anglebeet, 1689.
Ex. 5. Ex. 6.
CN3 -I
i
Sans tremblement. Sur une tierce.
S^LBrrFg g
—— —

There is a fundamental difference between the
turns shown in Exx. 3 and 4 and the true turns of
the other examples.
On account of the emphasis given to the
third below the principal note, which comes
as a longer note after shorter ones, the first
turn will fit well only when the main note is the
third above the bass it might be used on the fifth,
;
if the B was made flat, but it will not do on the
octave from the bass, with a common chord. The

other turn, on the contrary, will do equally well in
all cases.
George Muffat, in the " Florilegium," 1695, has
an interesting turn :
G. Muffat, 1695.
as tr
tr
f»F
" The sign for the turn, being placed after the
main note, ornaments the latter part of it. The
quaver D
becomes transformed into a semi-
quaver, according to the rule for the playing of
short notes after dots. The following shake would
of course begin with an appoggiatura, E."
In Purcell's " Lessons for the Harpsichord,"
1696 (posthumous), we find this amongst the
" Rules for Graces " :
" A mark for the turn thus :

ORNAMENTATION 229
explain'd thus
^^ggt
the mark for e
y shake turn'd thus-
explain'd thus —
3^3^ fcÊ
The turn is perfect in both examples. The

main note is played first, in the first example,
which retards the turn a little, as in Ex. 6 of
D'Anglebert.
In Loulie's " Principes de Musique," 1698, the
jerky character of the turn is interesting. The
ternary rhythm should not, however, be taken too
literally. No more is meant than the alternation
of short and long notes :
Louli£, 1698.
tr 00
^
$Tour de gosier.
i-
=
s v *~s '~
. — —

Francois Couperin, " Pieces de Clavecin," 1713,
only gives the following examples of che turn, and
":
he does not mention it in his " Methode
F. Couperin, 1713.
00 00
mw=* =t=
Double. Double\
-Ki^m=P- 5C5?C
I
¥ J=t
In his music the sign for the turn is occasionally

placed after the principal note, which should in
such cases be played first, the turn being introduced
later.
Couperin also uses the compound sign **, which
is somewhat forbidding in appearance. It only
means the usual shake ending with a turn, of
which we have seen many examples already.
J. S. Bach,
in the explanations of ornaments
written for his son, W. Friedemann, in 1720,
has the following examples of turns they are ;
substantially the same as D'Anglebert's (page 227),

and need no special comment :
J. S. Bach, 1720.
g»»v C**v
i
Cadence. D oppelt-cadence Idem.
ORNAMENTATION 231
In practice, the horizontal sign (00) for the turn

appears more frequently than the vertical the
( g ) ;
meaning is the same. When the sign is placed

between two notes, the turn is played after the
first note, and connects it with the following note.
The combination ^
occasionally appears in
Bach's music. It should be played as explained
above in connection with Fr. Couperin.
Th. Muffat, 1726, has nothing new to show.
J. Ph. Rameau, 1731, calls the turn
" Double,"
and treats it like Couperin.
Charles Dieupart, " Pieces de Clavecin
(
c- x 735)) gives the following example :
Ch. Dieupart, c. 1735 (?).
Double-cadence, a shake turn.
This is the old turn which starts on the main note
and goes down a third, as in Chambonnieres and

D'Anglebert, and he uses no other. This points
to an earlier date than is generally ascribed to his
pieces. They were published without a date, and
the date of birth of Dieupart is unknown. He
died in 1740. There is no reason why his
" Pieces " should not have been written about
1700, which would agree well with the style
of the music.
— —

Fr. W. Marpurg, in " Die Kunst das Klavier
zu spielen," Berlin, 1750, shows the following
turns :
Ex. 1. Ex. 2. Marpurg, 1750.

CO CO
w — F— ^ =»-
i £=&3E5
Double. Groppo.
In Ex. i, first bar, we

see the turn on the end
of a note, and
second bar the written-out
in the
execution of the double sign ^, already mentioned.
In Ex. 2 we see the special sign indicating a turn
which starts on the main note, the old " Groppo "
of c. 1600.
In the French version of this work, published in

1756, the various kinds of turns, with their different
notations, are given as follows :
Marpurg, 1756.
Ex. 3. Ex. 4. Ex. 5.
00 CO
.2
-t-
Le Double.
ORNAMENTATION 233
Ex.6. Ex. 7. Ex. 8. Ex. 9.
grUhJm
m -*-»-
stti !*^fc*: zt±a
P
Ex. 10. Ex. 11.
CO 00
i HH-
In Ex. 3 the turn is shown in two different

rhythms. The first for quick, the second for slow
movements.
In Ex. 4 the inverted sign indicates an inverted
turn. It is logical enough, but in practice the two
signs are not easily distinguished from one another.
The context shows sufficiently well whether the
direct or the inverted turn should be used; in
doubtful cases, the former would naturally be
preferred. Ex. 5 seems to restrict the upright
sign to the inverted turn; in practice, it means
either one or the other.
Exx. 6, 7, 8, 9 show turns indicated wholly or
partly by means of small notes, which, of course,
does not alter their execution. In Ex. 10 we
have the old Groppo again.
Ex. 11 shows the turn coming after an appog-
giatura or a slur its first note is
;
held, not
repeated, in such cases.
Quantz mentions the " Double " (page 81,
paragraph 14), but has nothing special to say
about it.
C. Ph. E. Bach devotes twelve pages of his
" Versuch, &c," 1753, to the turn, and gives some
seventy examples not included in the twelve
pages.
It would be of little use to quote all, most of
which we know already well enough. The
following extracts will suffice : —
" Von dem Doppelschlage, § 7. This beautiful
ornament is too convenient fits; almost
it
anywhere, and consequently is often abused.

Many seem to believe that the whole grace and
charm of clavier-playing consists in introducing a
turn at every moment. It is therefore necessary
to learn its proper use, for in spite of its handiness,
there are many tempting opportunities to place it
where it should not be.
" § 8. The used principally to add
turn is
brilliance to the notes thus it commonly happens
;
that notes which for expression should be simply

sustained, are found uncomfortably long by those
who do not understand the right touch and style,
and are therefore spoiled by a turn.
" one considers that this ornament
§ 9. If
represents, in shortened form, an ordinary shake
with termination, one can already get some idea of
its proper use.
" § 10. The
turn being played quickly, in most
cases, and upper note snapped in the manner
its
previously described (page 185), it is a mistake to
use it on a long note instead of an ordinary shake,
for the note is thus left too empty.
ORNAMENTATION 235
" § 11. An exception should be made when, in
slow time, for the sake of expression, or at a close
(Ex. 1), or again after an appoggiatura from
below (Ex. 2), instead of a shake one makes a
soft turn, and holds its last note until the
next :
C. Ph. E. Bach, 1753.

*. played:
tr
" § By reason of its resemblance to a shake

12.
with a termination, the turn goes better in
ascending than in descending passages. One can
even easily ornament all the notes of an ascending
scale of one octave or more with plain turns but ;
not a descending one. This occurs frequently in

music for the violin and other instruments of a like
nature. The notation is then as at Ex. 3, the
execution as at (a) and (b), according to the
tempo :
Ex. 3. C. Ph.' E. Bach, 1753.
i
tr tr tr tr tr
&c.
^
(a)
WB
tS &c.
Presto.
— —
" § The sign for the turn is very little
17.
known outside of clavier players yet this ;
ornament is absolutely necessary. It thus

happens that in instrumental music the sign
for the shake, or even that of the mordent, is
used to indicate a turn. In the following
examples, there are many places where a turn is
better and more convenient than a shake :
C. Ph. E. Bach, 1753.

Ex. 4. Ex. 5. Ex.6.
tr tr tr tr
£=M= 3=
-1 — i
Ex. 7. Ex. 8. Ex. 9.
i
;?=£
-*-*.
^m
tr
T-S1 &m tr
jp—.
Ex. 10. Ex. 11. Ex. 12.

tr
35 &
tr.
PP
Ex. 13. Ex. 14. Ex. 15. Ex. 16. Ex. 17.
tr
tr
aziz -*=*--
m
Ex. 18. Ex. ig.
Recit.
^ IK
3fc3t
m fp^T
ORNAMENTATION 237
In Exx. 4, 10, 18, 19, no other ornament but a
turn could be used.
" In Exx. 13, 14, 15, and 16, where the third
note a repetition of the second, a shake would be
is
right in slow or moderate tempo, and a turn in

quick time.
"In Ex. 17, in slow time one might add a
passing appoggiatura after the turn.
" § 18. In Exx. 18 and 19, which are recitatives,
and in which the last note of the turn must not be
sustained, in imitation of speech, a turn is expressly-
demanded. As the sign for the shake could not
possibly be placed there, if one knows of no other,
the ornament has to be left to the discretion of the
player."
The later bring no new information

writers
of importance on
the turn but in Turk's ;
" Klavierschule," 1789, the following useful warning
is given :
" The quick turn (geschnellter Doppelschlag) begins

with the principal note. It is often written as at (a).
It must be played as indicated below not as ;
at (b). The principal note must not be played

twice in succession":
—
SECTION VI.
The Slide, Elevation, Double Backfall,
Wholefall, Slur, Bearing.
French : Coule. Flatte.
German : Schleifer.
This ornament consists of two additional

consecutive notes below the principal, the lower
of which is played first, with an accent and in the
time of the principal.
The note C being given, to make a slide to it, start
on A a third below, and play smoothly the three
notes A, B, C, being careful not to begin before
the time appointed for C. Sometimes the slide is
inverted, the two additional notes being above the
principal instead of below.
The slide is a very old ornament. It has been
in and out of fashion several times. It was much
abused early in the 17th century, if we may believe
this passage :
Playford's " Introduction to the Skill of Music,"

1655:—
" There are some that in the Tuning of the first
Note, Tune a Third under Others Tune the
it :
first Note in his proper Tune, always increasing it

in Loudness, saying, that this is the good way of
putting forth the Voyce gracefully.
" Concerning the first Since it is not a general
:
Rule, because it agrees not in many Cords,

although in such places as it may be used, it is
now become so ordinary, that instead of being a
Grace (because some stay too long in the third
note under, whereas it should be but lightly
ORNAMENTATION 239
touched) it is rather tedious to the Ear ; and that
for Beginners in particular it ought seldom to be
used: but instead of it, as being more strange, I
would chuse the second for the Increasing of the
Voyce."
This passage in Playford was taken from
Caccini's " Nuove Musiche," the 2nd edition, 1607.
The slide, therefore, must have been common at.
that time in Italy, although it is not often found
in contemporary treatises. Here, however, are a
few examples :
BOVICELLI, I594.
i S§3 221
1 ^t -*
-i—
d * m »- m-m
PRiETORIUS, 1619.
feM^^JÎ i *-*-*-
^^nrrriZ
I*= BS
Praetorius, as we know, was quoting Italian
authors. It is worthy of notice that in all his
examples, except the last, the first note of the slide
is held and accented in the manner condemned by
Playford, the very manner which became the rule
in the 18th century.
Later, in " Playford's Introduction," among the
" Graces for the Viol or Violin," already quoted,
— — —

we find the following examples of perfect slides
with the signs indicating them :
" Introduction," 1655. Playford.

,;
33S
PP
i m
Elevation.
K_-=3_ XI m — «-=^
Explanation.
g_ <-j- 11 m.
Double
—-= u *fc
Explanation.
Backfall.
Christopher Simpson, in the " Division Violist,"

1659, says:—
Page 11:" Sometimes a note is Graced by sliding
up to it from a Third below, called an Elevation,
now something obsolete. Sometimes from the
Third above, which we call a Double Back-Fall.
This Sliding a Third, is performed commonly
upon one String."
In the Table of Graces which follows, and
which is written by " the ever-famous Charles
Colman, Doctor in Musick," the signs and
explanations given are precisely the same as those
of Playford.
Thomas Mace, in " Musick's Monument," 1676,
has the following :
Page 105: "The Whole-fall, is a Grace, much

out of use, in These our Days ; yet because, in some
Cases it is very Good, and Handsome, and may
give Delight, and Content to many, who think fit to
use It know, it is Thus Performed ; viz. It gives
;
Two False Letters, before the True intended Letter

comes in.
" Explained thus.
" Suppose I would give a Whole-fall, to the
Letter upon the 5th String Then I must first
d, :
strike a, upon that String and then fall my ;
Fore-finger hard, upon b, on the same string, and

ORNAMENTATION 241
so closely after, (holding b still stopt) fall my 3d

or Little Finger, as hard into the True intended
Letter d; and thus the Performance is Finished;
yet always observing, (that for an Equality, and
Evenness, in these 3 sounds) (which is a thing Chiefly
to be Regarded) you must take Care, that you
strike not the first so Loud, as that the strength of
the Finger, is not sufficient to cause the other 2
following Letters to Sound as Loud, as the first
which was struck. Therefore, ever at a Whole-fall,
strike the first Note of the 3, Softly ; so may you
with the more Ease, and Certainty, make the next 2,
as Loud; for a Man cannot fall a String so Loud,
as he can strike it."
This is the language of Lute Tablature. The
notes mentioned correspond to e, f, g. The
example in ordinary notation would come to
this :—
''Musick's_Monument," 1676. Thomas Mace.
m m Whole-fall.
The sign used is the same as Playford's and

Simpson's. It is the all-covering cross which for
over a century indicated all kinds of ornaments in
all kinds of music.
In Chambonnieres's Table (1670), the "coule"
is a perfect slide to the ear the fact that the first
;
note is held down does not alter the effect so long

as that note is part of the harmony.
In Purcell the notation is the same as
Chambonnieres's, only that the first note of the
slide is not held down. Purcell calls it the slur
: — —
a misleading name, sinceit conveys other meanings
besides that intended.

D'Anglebert, 1689, shows various aspects of
the slide. The examples of these three composers
are quoted side by side, their resemblance being
thus rendered the more striking :
-19
5!=*=
i Coule\
H. PURCELL, 1696.
A slur is
mark'd thus
i -m-
Explain
thus "jigp
D'Anglebert, 1689.
m
Coulfi sur
1
30E ^2-
^^
Autre. Sur 2 notes de suite. Autre.
une tierce.
j£2
l^^l :p>=p: 5=«=P==pcff=jt
EEE&3=r=$Z*=&
In G. Muffat's " Florilegium," 1695, the slide is

similar to the preceding examples, the sign only
being different :
G. MCFFAT, 1695.
f^l
ORNAMENTATION 243
The composers of music for the viola da gamba,

violin, flute, &c, of that period make a frequent use
of the slide but they indicate it in small notes, as
;
may be seen in the works of Marin Marais,

De Caix d'Hervelois, the Forquerays, and others,
Some, like Senaille, Schenck, &c, use the cross +
which means so many things that it is hardly
better than no indication at all.
In all the examples of slides we have seen so far
the ornament is played in the time of the principal
note. This rule, however, was not followed by
everybody. There always were some who played
the graces before the notes to which they belong,
in opposition to the practice of the great masters.
Among them we find Johann Gottfried Walther, a
contemporary and friend of J. S. Bach. Here are
his examples :
" Kompositionslehre, " 1708. G. Walther.

J.
$ E^
-^*=
Z
M Eîzr ifte
Explanation.
w IP) w
$ BEE St ^5§S&*
=1=
The slides are at (a), (b), (c). If played as they

should be, with an accent on the first note
diminishing the tone towards the principal, they
sound neither graceful nor flowing, the one at (c)
especially. They do not agree with the idea
conveyed by the French word " flatte." They
might, however, be considered as passing-notes,
in which case they should be played evenly and
— •
244 I7 TH and i8th CENTURY MUSIC

the effect would be good but then they would no
;
longer be slides, and the sign ought not to be thus

misused it creates a confusion which may prove
;
difficult to remove.
The sign ^ used by Walther had been
previously employed by Joh. Kuhnau, c. 1689.
J. S. Bach made frequent use of it but during the ;
1 8th century the tendency has been more and more
towards indicating the slide by means of small

notes in preference to signs.
Franz Xaver Murschhauser, " Prototypon," &c,
c. 1 710, gives the following sign and explanation
of the slide among his " Signa quaedam nonnullis
explicanda " :
s=t
Acquivalet Huic.
" General-Bass," 171 1, has the

J. D. Heinichen,
following signs and explanations of the slide : —
EeÊS^Sfi £=3b
Observe that the position of the oblique cross x

in the stave indicates the note upon which the
slide begins also that the first note of the slide is
;
six times longer than the principal note !
In the works of Francois Couperin the slides are

generally written in small notes, and conform to
his constant practice of playing ornaments in the
ORNAMENTATION 245
time of the principal note to which they belong.
In the Table of Graces which precedes his first
book of pieces, his explanation of the " Tierce
coulee " seems to place the ornament before the
main note :
Fr. Couperin, 1713.
^5^ 5£iE
i Tierce coulee, Tierce coulee,
en montant. en descendant.
i
^Xw EfiG
W
Effet.
This, however, should not be taken literally.

Couperin's notation was often lacking in precision.
J. Ph. Rameau does not mention the slide.
In Th. Muffat's Table we find the following

turns :
" Componimenti, " 1726. Th. Muffat.
$ ^4^ M^m
^r
SS *
Fr. Wilh. Marpurg gives the following slides :
"Die Kunst das Clavier zu spielen," 1750. Fr. Wilh. Marpurg.
$
ziî
w=S=m '-¥=*-
Ett --tst
Schleifer.
— —
Principes du Clavecin. •
1756.
Fr ^^ Marpdrg
—
_ _
f^—
-j-*-
h r w? f j
±
1 1
EÊ
Le FlattS.
P^SBâpPg^^l
J. S. Bach has not

included the slide in the list
of ornaments he wrote for his son Friedemann. It

is,however, frequently found in his works, some-
times written out in full, or in small notes, or
indicated by the sign *v~. In the Andante of the
Sonata in D minor for harpsichord and viola da
gamba there are many slides either written out as
at (a) or indicated by a sign as at (b) :
Andante.
In the Aria for alto with violin obbligato from

the second part of the " St. Matthew " Passion,
" Erbarme dich," there are many slides indicated
in small notes as at (c), or written out in full as at
(/) and (g). The slide-like figures at (d) and (e)
must not be confused with true slides, being only
ORNAMENTATION 247
the termination of a shake which in the first case (e)
is not even marked :
Violino Solo. '

' Aria.
'
— —
with a down bow, crescendo, the next two slurred,
diminuendo, the last staccato, with an up bow.
" § 23. The two small semiquavers, Ex.
3,
belong to the French style rather than to the
Italian. They must not be played as slowly as
those mentioned before, but on the contrary, with
precipitation, as shown in Ex. 4 " :
J. J. QUANTZ, 1752.
Ex. 1, Ex. 2. Ex. 3. Ex. 4.
B m^^^^&^w^^^
^
In C. Ph. E. Bach's " Versuch, &c," 1753, we
find mixed with the true slide an ornament of three
notes which, being really an inverted turn, finds
its proper place amongst the turns, and need not
detain us further.
The following compendium of C. Ph. E. Bach's
precepts and examples concerning the slide will be
found useful :
" The slide is used with or without a dot

(Exx. 1 and 5).
"Slides are indicated by two little demisemi-
quavers in; alia breve time semiquavers are
sufficient (Exx. 1 and 2). This ornament is also
indicated by a sign (Ex. 3), or written out in full
(Ex.4).
" The slide with a dot conveys a pleasant feeling.
Its time arrangement varies more than that of
almost any other ornament in the pieces I give ;
as examples for study I have therefore written this

ornament very carefully.
ORNAMENTATION 249
"The following examples exhibit a variety of
slides, with their execution. In the case of
Ex. 13, the arrangement shown at (a) goes better
with the bass than that at (b)
" These examples show the proper places for
using the slide. In the case of discords
(Exx. g, 10, 11, 12), or bare octaves
(Exx. 14, 15), some ornament must be used, and
there is no other which would do as well as a slide.
" The notes following a slide generally descend,
but at Ex. 14 it is shown that the melody might
continue on the same note. All that pertains to
the playing of this ornament is shown at
Exx. 7 and 8. We
see there that the dotted
note must be loud, whilst the little note which
leads to the principal should be soft. The dot on
the last note of the slur shows that the finger must
be lifted before the value of this note is finished
in consequence, the dot which follows the first
note becomes a rest, as may be seen at
Exx. 12 and 13 " :
" Versuch, &c," 1573. C. Ph. E. Bach.

Ex. 1. Ex. Ex. 3. Ex. 4.
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Ex. 5. Ex. 6 Ex. 7.
Notation
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ORNAMENTATION 25 1
Ex. 15.
Notation.
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SECTION VII.
The Springer (or Spinger). Accent.
Acute. Sigh.
French: Accent. Aspiration. Plainle.
German Nachschlag.
:
The Springer or Accent consists of a short

auxiliary introduced at the end of the
note
principal, and connecting it with the following
note. This additional note is generally the next
above, but sometimes the next below, the principal.
Prsetorius, " Syntagma," &c, 1619, gives the
following examples of accents — :
PRjETORIUS, 1619.
s
Ex. 1 5 6
ir ^=
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Exx. 1 and 4 are the plain notes; the others
show the accents. In Exx. 3 and 6, the auxiliary

note being the same as the following, the accent
becomes an anticipation.
In Playford's " Introduction," &c, 1655, the
following sign and explanation of the Springer
are given in the Table of Graces :
A springer. Explanation.
3=5
i z+±E=5i
— . —
Ch. Simpson, in his " Division Violist," 1659
(page 11), says :
" There is yet another Plain or Smooth Grace

called an Acute or Springer, which concludes the
Sound of a Note more acute, by clapping down
another Finger just at the expiring of it."
The sign and explanation in his Table of Graces
are the same as Playford's.
Th. Mace, in " Musick's Monument," 1676,
calls this ornament "Spinger" ; as he uses the same
spelling constantly through his work, the omission
of the "1" cannot be attributed to a misprint.
His sign is the same as Playford's .—
Mace's explanations are as follows :
Page 108 " The Spinger, is a Grace, very Neat,

:
and Curious, for some sort of Notes; and is done

Thus, viz.
" After you have Hit your Note, which you intend
to make the Grace upon, you must (just as you
intend to part with your Note) Dab one of your
next Fingers lightly upon the same String, a Fret, or
2 Fretts below, (according to the Ayre) as if you did
intend to stop the String, in that Place, yet so Gently,
that you do not cause the String to Sound, in that
Stop, (so dab'd ;) but only so, that it may suddenly
take away that Sound, which you last struck; yet
give some small Tincture of a New Note; but not
Distinctly to be heard, as a Note; which Grace (if
Well done, and Properly) is very Taking, and
Pleasant."
This not really possible on any instrument
is
but the lute.The guitar might give some idea of
it, though its strings are too thick and too tight
to produce the effect in perfection. Its particular
grace can only be imitated on other instruments
ORNAMENTATION 253
by playing the auxiliary note very softly and
smoothly, and making it as short as possible.
Jean Rousseau, in his " Traite de la Viole," 1687,
calls this grace " l'Aspiration," and gives many
rules for its use. His directions for performance
are worth quoting; they are excellent, and may
be applied to all bowed instruments.
Page go " The Aspiration is made when at the
:
end of a note one lets a finger fall upon the note

which is situated immediately above it, in the same
bowing, and upon which the bow must suddenly
stop."
Rousseau does not give any sign for the Springer.
In his examples, the cross indicates a shake :
Jean Rousseau, 1687.
mExample.
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—

" Florilegium, " 1695. G. Muff at.
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Fr. Couperin calls the Springer " Accent," and

gives the following example :
" Pieces de Clavecin," 1713. Franqois Couperin.
i is
-£2= ©-=--
*=
Accent.
In the works of J. S. Bach, the Springer or

Nachschlag is frequently found but almost always ;
written out in full. There is, however, a passage

in the first Sonata for harpsichord and viola da
gamba which seems to have a Nachschlag indicated
by means of a short curve : —
Allegro moderate, bars 6, 7.
i
ORNAMENTATION 255
If the sign is correct, the execution would be :
But considering that this Nachschlag destroys

the syncopation, a characteristic feature of the
phrase that the same phrase occurs over and
;
over again in the same movement, both in the

viola da gamba part and in that of the harpsichord,
but that the doubtful sign appears only once, it is
probable that it is a mistake, and therefore had
better be ignored by the performer.
C. Ph. E. Bach incidentally mentions the
Nachschlag, but only to condemn it. It, seems
that some of his contemporaries abused it. No
doubt the ornament in itself is weak, and if
introduced too frequently would render the music
insipid. But judiciously employed, it is full of
grace and charm, and many phrases of Corelli or
Tartini could not live without it.
The last author we need mention about the
Springer is Fr. Wilh. Marpurg, who gives many
interesting examples of it.
By the way, he further confirms the principle

that graces were universally played in the time of
the note which follows them. The aspiration and
the portamento being the only two ornaments
which do not follow this rule, to make sure that
the little note which indicates them should not be
treated as an appoggiatura and taken out of the
following note, Marpurg turned the hooks of
the little notes backwards to render confusion
—
impossible. This device may be seen in Exx. 2,
3, 5, 8, and 9 of the following examples :
Principes du Clavecin," 1756. Fr. Wilh. Marpurg.

L' Aspiration.
Ex. 1. Ex. 2. Ex. 3. Ex. 4.
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Ex. 5. Ex. 6. Ex. 7. Ex. 8. Ex. 9.
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ORNAMENTATION 257
an appoggiatura with its accent on the auxiliary
note, whilst there must be no such accent in the
Anschlag. The word " Anschlag " literally means
" striking at."
No sign was used for this ornament : only small
notes.
It is first mentioned by Quantz in his " Versuch,"
&c, Chap, xiii., § 46:
"The two small notes at (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (/), (g),
which form a skip of a third, are an Anschlag,
which singers use in wide intervals, to find surely
a high note. If you wish to make no other grace,
you may use this Anschlag on all rising intervals,
from a second to an octave, before long notes on
accented or unaccented beats. But it must be
joined very quickly, though softly, to the note.
The note itself must be a little louder than the
small notes. At the second, fourth and seventh,
(a), (c), (/), the Anschlag is more agreeable than
with the other intervals it sounds better, therefore,
;
when the auxiliary note is a semitone below the

principal. Although the Anschlag expresses
tender, sighing and pleasant feelings, it would not
be advisable to use it too often. It must be rarely
employed, for what is most pleasant is easiest to
remember, and too much of one thing, however
good, soon palls upon one " :
Quantz.
"Versuch," &c, 1752.
(a) (b) (c) (d)
-f-j±m=3s X-
f') (/) (g)
—

The Anschlag is occasionally found in
J. S. Bach's works ; but with one exception

it is always written in full.
Theexception is in the Saraband of the un-

finished Suite for clavier in F minor " Bach :
Gesellschaft," 36th year, page 230, bars 5, 6 :—

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And yet this is not a true Anschlag, for the skip
between the two auxiliary notes is larger than a
third, and the first note is not a repetition of
the preceding main note. It should, however, be
treated as an Anschlag.
Fr. Wilh. Marpurg, in his " Principes du
Clavecin," 1756, gives the following examples:
Le Port de voix double.
Ex. 1. Ex. 2. Ex. 3. £ Ex. 4. Ex. 5.
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ORNAMENTATION 259
In Ex. 5 we see an inverted Anschlag, a very
rare ornament.
In Ex. 6 the Anschlag is dotted. Its nature is
much altered thereby, as the dotted note must
perforce be accented. It is questionable whether
itshould be called an Anschlag in that form.
C. Ph. E. Bach, in his " Versuch," &c, 1753,
has a chapter on the Anschlag. Some of the
rules and examples are valuable, and complete the
preceding information :
Ex. 1. Ex. 2.
Thesmall notes in Ex. 1, when there is a skip of

more than a third, are not played so rapidly as at
Ex. 2 but they must always be played softer
;
than the principal note.

The Anschlag, when it consists of the seconds
below and above the principal, may be used in
quick passages where no other ornament would be
satisfactory (Ex. 3) :
Ex. 3. Ex. 4.
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In slow time the Anschlag will do very well in

such cases as Ex. 4, for it will soften the discord
of the augmented second.
•
SECTION IX.
The Arpeggio. Battery. Broken Chord.
French: Arpege. Harpegement. Harpege.
German : Harpeggio.
Italian: Arpeggio. Harpeggiato.
The Arpeggio consists in playing the notes of a

chord severally in succession instead of .together.
Its name is derived from the Harp, on which
instrument it is natural and effective to break the
chords. In modern music, the chords, when broken,
are nearly always broken upwards, beginning with
the lowest note. In the old music many other
forms were used. The player had to find out the
best arrangement, and he was supposed to know
how to fill up the time of each Arpeggio chord
according to the style of the piece he was playing.
Frescobaldi, in the third paragraph of the
Preface quoted at page 4, says : —
" The beginnings of the Toccate should be
played adagio and arpeggiando ; the same applies
to the syncopations and discords, even in the
middle of the pieces. The chords should be
broken with both hands so that the instrument
may not be left empty this battery can be
;
repeated at pleasure."
This clearly tells us what to do, but not how to
do it. Plenty of information is, however, available
from other sources, and it is hoped the sequence
will make everything clear. Meanwhile, here is the
beginning of Frescobaldi's eighth Toccata, first
as it stands in the original, then as it might be
interpreted. The long bars of the original
ORNAMENTATION 261
are divided in the interpretation, to facilitate

reading :
"Toccata Otava " —Original text Frescobaldi.
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The same, interpreted :-
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ORNAMENTATION 263
your Bass; Then, just as you hit the Bass with

your Thumb, draw all over your Fore-finger, very
gently, till you have hit the Sixth String, and you
will hear a very Full Consort, of 7 Parts. ..."
Here is the effect of this arpeggio :
—
contain elaborate divisions. The following
examples are selected amongst the simplest :
" Musick's Monument.' Th. Mace, 1676.

Ex. i.
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fr
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Plain cadence
Ex. 2.
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Ex. 4.
ORNAMENTATION 265
In Chambonnieres's " First book of Pieces," 1670,

the arpeggiois given thus :
r
3E
Note the difference between the signs for upward

and downward arpeggio :
(J
and P
In the " Pieces de Clavecin composees par
Monsieur Le Begue," Paris, 1677, the sign and
execution of the upward arpeggio are the same as
in Chambonnieres ; but there is no mention of a
downward arpeggio.
In Purcell's pieces, broken chords and arpeggios
occur very frequently but they are nearly always
;
written out in full. The beautiful " Ground " in

C minor is made up almost entirely of such broken
chords :
Ground. H. PURCELL.
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2 66 i 7 th AND i8th CENTURY MUSIC

Among the " Rules for Graces " which preface
the first edition of Purcell's " Lessons for the
Harpsichord," we find this :
Ye battery thus explain'd thus :
/^- t-l
It is not clear. There must be some mistake

about it. The word "battery" means arpeggio;
there is no doubt on this point (see " Dieupart,"
page 269) batterie in French still means a broken
;
chord at the present time. But the sign [(] used

by Purcell was generally understood to indicate
passing notes, and the explanation contains none.
Moreover, the wavy line itself needs explaining.
Happily, this sign is rarely used by Purcell. It
occurs in the fourth and last bars of the " Almand "
of his second Suite in minor, as follows G :
H. Purcell.
Hp* i^3= s &c.
m& tefc
(4th bar.
ORNAMENTATION 267
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In the first case (bar 4) a mere breaking up of

the chord would leave a gap in the bar and, ;
moreover, would hinder the progress of the melody

and spoil its rhythm. The solution indicated is
therefore preferable. In the last bar a downward

breaking of the chord is right, for there also an
upward arpeggio would destroy the rhythm, and
would not satisfactorily conclude this majestic
piece.
D'Anglebert rightly calls Exx. 3 to 6 " Arpege " ;
but the first two are named " Cheute," which is one
of the names of the arpeggio. The additional
notes, B in and D in Ex. 2, are
Ex. 1, B
appoggiature, and may have been foremost in his
mind on account of the alteration they produce in
the chords.
— —
" Pieces de Clavecin j" 1689 D'Anglebert.
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Cheute sur Cheute sur
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une note, deux nottes.
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$0Ex. 1. Ex. 2. Ex. 3. Ex. 4. Ex. 5.
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Ex. 6.
In Brossard's " Dictionaire de Musique," 1703,

we find : —
" Harpeggiato or Harpege. It is when the notes
of a chord are played not together, but one after
another, beginning with the lowest, of which the
tone must, however, be held "
^
:
1
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m 3= r
F. Couperin gives these arpeggios :
" ier Livre de Pieces," Paris, 1713. Francois Couperin.
Arpegement
en montant.
ma Arpegement
en descendant.
\
—:;fcgz --«— <a
Effet.
Nf* ST
In the " Avertissement " of Marin Marais,

Pieces de Viole," third Book, Paris, 1717,
we see That sign [—] which is
ORNAMENTATION 269
found by the side of chords, indicates that they
must be separated, beginning at the bass and
continuing until the treble; this may be called
'
harpegement.' It is most essential in certain
"
pieces, as in '
La Guitarre '
and '
Le Moulinet.'
'
La Guitarre.
'
Marin Marais, 1717.
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'
' Le Moulinet. '
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Note. — [ x ] indicates a mordent, and [,] after the note a shake.
The following examples are taken from

Dieupart's Table :
" Suittes de Clavecin," c. 1720. Charles Dieupart.
m Harpegement.
Battery.
?
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The French word "Harpegement," English with its
equivalent " Battery,"

should be noted in con-
junction with Purcell's "Battery" (see page 265).
Here the sign [ ( ] indicates a figured arpeggio,
—
whilst the oblique line is applied to the plain
broken chord.
Rameau's arpeggios are as follows :
"Pieces de Clavecin," 1731. J. Ph. Rameau.

Ex. 1. Ex. 2. Ex. 3. Ex. 4.
-r "
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ment
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Arpe-gement simple.
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figure.
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Execution.
Exx. i and 2 are like the examples of D'Anglebert.

Other composers of the same period, such as
Dandrieu and Muffat, have the same sign and
explanations. It would be superfluous to quote
them. At Ex. 3 the combination of the oblique
line and the wavy vertical line, to indicate a figured
arpeggio, should be noticed. Rameau is the only
composer who uses it, and it is very common in
his works. Ex. 4 is most interesting in showing
how to fill empty places with " parties luthees."
In the advice to players prefacing the " Concerts
en Trio " of Rameau (1742), there is a direction to
the viol player which is most useful in indicating
how to treat arpeggios containing important inner
parts. Rameau says that in places where the
violist cannot conveniently play two or more notes
together, he must play them arpeggio, finishing
upon the one on the side of which the melody continues.
This is the key to the interpretation of many
arpeggios of Bach; as, for example, those in the
" Chromatic Fantasia," which lose so much of their
meaning and beauty when played in the usual way.
ORNAMENTATION 271
Unfortunately, original examples of the inter-

pretation of complicated arpeggios are not common.
Two interesting instances occur in the " Fantazia "
of C. Ph. E. Bach, explained by his disciple
Rellstab in " C. Ph. E. Bach's Anfangstiicke, &c,"
1 790. We
can understand from these what freedom
the performer was allowed in such cases, even to
the extent of temporarily altering the bass of
the harmony, as may be seen in the working out
of the first two chords :
'
Fantazia."
Original text. Interpretation. C. Ph. E. Bach.
4
i^^p^^^ d-
Arpeggio.
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'
Fantazia.
'
C. Ph. E. Bach.
Original text. Interpretation.
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ORNAMENTATION 273
But thisvery freedom increases our difficulties.
Some arpeggios of Bach, where the changes of
harmonies occur at irregular intervals, and which
contain figures in the inner parts, require much
experience and study for their interpretation. In
Preludio xxi., from the second volume of " Das
wohltemperirte Klavier," which is a free fantasia
similar to those of C. Ph. E. Bach, the following
passage occurs at bars 16, 17, 18:
" Das wohltemperirte Klavier," Vol. ii.
Preludio xxi. J. S. Bach.

Original notation.
The first chord obviously requires breaking,

though not so marked. The ear could not under-
stand from which part the melody continues, unless
the A is played last, and held. In bar 16, third
and fourth beats, the expressive inner part
C, D, Eb (right hand), is answered in imitation by
—
the F, G, At?, of the left hand. To
render this
effect, some such an arrangement as given below
must be resorted to. It implies freedom of
rhythm. The little notes follow one another very
quickly, but still there must be time to play
them :
Execution
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ORNAMENTATION 275
SECTION X.
Expressive Rests.
Crackled chords, The Tut, Detache, Aspiration,
Suspension, Silences d''Articulation, Son Coupe,
Staccato.
These names refer to rests which are substituted

either at the beginning or end of notes for an
equivalent part of their value. In modern music,
notes with a dot or a dash over them are only held
for about a quarter of their value in the first
case, and less in the second. The meaning of
the dash is the same now as it used to be but ;
the dot was never employed in that sense until late

in the 18th century. It meant that notes so
marked were to be played evenly, as we have seen
at page 75. Various signs indicated these rests
but in most cases there were no signs. The player
had to know where and how they should be
introduced.
The lute players were fond of suddenly stopping
the sound of a note. The "Tut" and the
" crackling " of chords were favourite devices.
Here is what Thomas Mace has to say on this
subject:
" Musick's Monument," page 109 :
" The Tut,
is a Grace, always performed with the Right Hand,
and is a sudden taking away the Sound of any Note,
and in such a manner, as it will seem to cry Tut
and is very Pritty, and Easily done, Thus.
" When you would perform This Grace, it is but
to strike your Letter, (which you intend shall be so
Grac'd) with one of your Fingers, and immediately
clap on your next striking Finger, upon the String
which you struck ; on which doing, you suddenly
—
take away the Sound of the Letter, which is that, we
call the Tut ; and if you do it clearly, it will seem
to speak the word Tut, so plainly, as if it were a
Living Creature, Speakable."
Mace's sign for this grace is a double dot before
the letter [ : d\.
Page 170 " To
crackle such 3 Part-Stops, is only
:
to divide each Stop, with your Thumb, and 2 Fingers ;
so as not to loose Time ; But give each Crochet Its

due Quantity ; and to add Prittiness Cause them ;
to Sobb, by Slacking your Stopping -Hand, so soon

as they are Struck ; yet not to unstop them, but only
so much as may Dead the Sound on a sudden.
This gives Great Pleasure in such Cases."
The following explanations of D'Anglebert are
obvious, since the accent required for the first
note of either the tremblement or the pince could
not be given unless it were preceded by a silence :—
'
Pieces de Clavecin," 1686. J. H. D'Anglebert.
i Dgtache' avant D^tache' avant

un tremblement. un pince.
The dash does not indicate a real staccato ; it
only shortens the note by one quarter of its value :
" Pieces de Clavecin," 1713. Francois Couperin.

Signe. Signe.
=*L
T-
ORNAMENTATION 277
The Suspension is an interesting ornament :
Pieces de Clavecin, " Francois Couperin.

1713. s _
lt=4
Signe.
$ BE*: ^ ^=P=P
Effet.
The Tempo rubato effect it produces is very

and charming. It should be tried in
characteristic
" Les Laurentines " and " La Tendre Fauchon,"
from Couperin's first book of pieces, and in
"La Castellane," from the second. One might
look in vain for "suspensions" in the majority
of modern editions. They have been removed,
together with many other beautiful ornaments.
Failing the original edition, which is very rare,
the reprint issued under the supervision of Brahms
and Chrysander may be used, for it is truthful in
almost every detail.
Fr. Couperin, in " l'Art de Toucher le Clavecin,"
page 15, comments upon expressive rests in the
following way. His ideas and phrases are
occasionally lacking in clearness, but the passage
deserves careful consideration. The translation is
as literal as possible :
" The sounds of the harpsichord being definite,

each one in particular, and in consequence
incapable of being either swelled or diminished,
it has seemed almost incredible till now that any
soul could be given to that instrument. However,

having improved by study the natural talent Heaven
—
gave me, I have become so fortunate as to touch
the persons of taste who have heard me play, and

to form pupils who, perhaps, surpass me.
" The effect I propose is due to the cessation,
and to the suspension of the sounds, properly used,
and according to the character of the melody.
" These two devices, by their contrast, leave the
ear in suspense, so that in places where bowed
instruments swell their sounds, the suspension of
those of the harpsichord seems, by contrary means,
to produce upon the ear the desired effect.
" I have already explained, in notes and rests,
both the A spiration and Suspension, in the Table
of Graces of my first book of Pieces. I hope that
the idea I have given of them will not prove

useless to people of taste and feeling.
" These two names of Aspiration and Suspen-
' ' '
sion may seem new at any rate, if anyone boasts

'
;
of having practised either of them, I don't think

anyone will resent my having broken the ice, in
giving to these graces names appropriate to their
effects. Moreover, I thought it was better to
understand one another in an art so highly
esteemed and widely practised as harpsichord
playing.
" For the Aspiration
'
you must detach the
'
note upon which it is marked, but less quickly in

tender than in light and rapid pieces.
" As to the Suspension,' it is hardly used in
'
any but in slow and expressive pieces. The

silence which precedes the note upon which it is
marked must be regulated by the taste of the
player."
Th. Muffat in his " Componimenti," 1726, gives
the following example :
ORNAMENTATION 279
»
i -IE
Staccato.
=1=
3E
Rameau uses these devices freely. Here are his

explanations :
" Pieces de Clavecin." Ph. Rameau, 1731.

J.
=t
Son Coupe\ Suspension.
E =± -=g=^
There being as yet no reliable reprint of his
examples will prove valuable.
pieces, the following
There are complicated ornaments combined with
the suspensions. The student who has persevered
so far should find no difficulty in solving them :
'
L'Entretien des Muses." J. Ph. Rameau.
i ^ ^nt
jCt. -/» wr
m=z
&- ^ i 1
jL J XT —t^v
! -J-Jr-
ifr
2 8o 17TH AND i8th CENTURY MUSIC
"Les Soupirs." J. Ph. Rameau.
Md^^t g§
i1
-»—1r
v V
Tendrement.
:pp
îfinr-pz
^ =j=£
-»
-*1—*- 1
Et
jOL &c
gits: -r=t
(The quavers slightly unequal.)
Premier Menuet, " Pieces en Concert."

Harpsichord. J. Ph. Rameau.
o o
I fSEi^ * =S^ ^T±:
USE -*4
i*=t
W
We now come to these " Silences d' Articulation "
for which there does not seem to be an English
name, although they are absolutely indispensable
to music. The wind instruments with their
breathing and tongueing, the bowed instruments
with their bowing, cannot help using them. In the
pianoforte, the enormous emphasis given to the
beginning of the notes by the blow of the hammer,
ORNAMENTATION 281
to a certain extent replaces them, and at the same

time points out one of the causes of the general
deficiency of phrasing conspicuous in modern
pianoforte playing, for these silences are its very
foundation.
Quantz has some interesting remarks on this
point :
Chap, xi., § 10 " : . One must not slur the

. . .
notes which should be detached, nor detach those

which should be slurred. The notes must not
seem to be glued together. The tongue must
articulate on the wind instruments and the bow on
the stringed instruments, always according to the
intentions of the composer as indicated by dashes
and slurs. The notes will thus obtain all their
liveliness, and the expression will be distinguished
from the bagpipe, which is played without
articulation. However well ordered the fingers
may be, they cannot alone produce musical
speech the tongue and the bow must help, and
;
it is these latter which affect most the expression
of a piece."
On keyboard instruments the articulation
depends entirely upon the judicious introduction
of rests. Those ingenious 18th century people
whose ambition it was to reproduce mechanically
the artistic and expressive interpretation of music,
were constrained to study these details. We
find
in " La Tonotechnie " (quoted page 43) the
following interesting pages :
Page 6 " There are many things to observe in

:
music, about which no author, as far as I know,

has said anything, and without which one should
feel hampered in the pricking [of cylinders]. I am
compelled, therefore, to make a few observations,

as a kind of supplement, to the principles of music.
A musician acquiring by use and the habit of
performing, the facility to render agreeably an
infinity of things which are imperfectly indicated
in the text, or even not at all, and upon which
depend, however, the effects which give the
character and expression, would have no need of
my observations, which he can apply without
thinking but the Pricker of Cylinders being obliged
:
to express everything in detail, could do nothing

without some principles to guide him therefore it
:
is on those parts which I call the effects, always left
out or badly indicated in the texts, that my

observations will bear, to show the way to the
Prickers perhaps they may not be despised even
;
by musicians, if they are desirous of transmitting

to posterity the proofs of their genius without any
alteration, by means of cylinders which could be
adapted to harpsichords or organs, and which they
would take pleasure in noting; and thus give the
reason of the effects of their Art, in finding in my
observations the principles of its details."
Page 1 8 " All the notes in execution, whether
:
ornamented or not, are partly in hold and partly

in silence ; which means that they all have a certain
length of sound, and a certain length of silence,
which united make the whole value of the note.
" These silences at the end of each note fix its
articulation and are as necessary as the holds them-
selves, without which they could not be detached
from one another and a piece of music, however
;
beautiful, would be no more agreeable without

these silences d 'articulation than these country
songs of Poitou, performed upon insipid bagpipes
which only give a noisy and inarticulate sound."
ORNAMENTATION 283
Page 23 " To be convinced of the necessity of

:
these silences at the end of each note, let one play

upon an organ, harpsichord, or any other keyboard
instrument a piece of music, no matter which, and
in the playing of it pay more attention to the
execution than to the way it is written it will be ;
noticed that a finger which has just finished a note

is often lifted long before it is placed on the next
note, and this interval is necessarily a silence, and

if one takes care, it will be seen that between all
the notes there are intervals more or less long,

without which the execution would be bad: even
the notes of the most rapid shakes are separated
by very small intervals. Those intervals, more
or less long, I call silences d' articulation
in music, from which no note is exempt, like
the articulated pronunciation of consonants in
speech, without which the syllables would have
no other distinction than the inarticulate sounds
of the vowels.
" A (little attention in the pronunciation given
to the articulation of the syllables will show that,

to produce the effect of nearly all consonants, the
sound of the vowel is stopped either by bringing
the lips together or by pressing the tongue against
the palate, the teeth, &c. All these stoppages of
the vowel's sound are as many short silences which
detach the syllables from one another to form the
articulation of speech. It is the same in the'
articulation of music, with the only difference that
the sound of an instrument being everywhere the
same, and producing so to speak only one vowel,
the silences d articulation must be more varied
1
than in speech, if a kind of intelligent and

interesting articulation is to be produced."
Plenty of examples of these expressive rests will
be found in the pieces from " La Tonotechnie,"
and the " Romance de
r
M
Balbastre," from
-
Dom Bedos, which are given in the Appendix

of this book.
A
word of warning, however, is necessary here.
The staccato style of playing was fashionable
c. 1770, and
therefore exaggerated. It is
unquestionable that these silences d' articulation

are wanted but they should be applied with
;
moderation to the earlier music. The " insipid,

noisy, and inarticulate " bagpipe gives pleasure to
some; and even the bagpipe style of Bach playing
of the present time has admirers.
SECTION XL
Tempo Rubato (in English, " Stolen Time ").
By Tempo Rubato are meant the alterations of

time introduced by the performer for the sake of
expression. This device is as old as music itself.
It is obvious that emotional feeling, if there be any,
will cause the player to linger on particularly
expressive notes and to hurry exciting passages.
If there are people who think that the old music
does not require the Tempo Rubato, it is because they
do not perceive its meaning and are, moreover,
;
ignorant of the fact that it was as common formerly

as it is now.
In the chapter on " Expression," the general
features of the Tempo Rubato have been brought
out a few special points only remain to be
;
considered now.
ORNAMENTATION 285
The following examples from Caccini's " Nuove

Musiche," 1601, are sufficiently clear. They
should not, however, be taken too literally; they
need a little additional Tempo Rubato, just to avoid
stiffness :
1
Nuove Musiche. Giulio Caccini, 1601.
Execution.
f-pâ- & =S^P-

-t-t
zw—y
$^
SS=r=fe
^ 1
u '
-a .
F?=e
§ i=t
Turk's " Klavierschule," 1789, there is a

In
chapter on Tempo Rubato, of which the following
gives the important points :
" The so-called Tempo Rubato (Gestohlnes

Zeitmasz) I have already mentioned as being
the last means employed by the player for the
expression of his emotion and feeling. It generally
implies a shortening or lengthening, or a displacing

of the notes. One note is robbed of some of its
value, and as much is given to another. A certain
passage (a) being given, we have at (b) the
— —
Tempo Rubato through an anticipation,' and at
(c) through a retardation :
4î
i f-
E± S=^
W (*)
i
" One can
see from these examples that the
length of the bar as a whole is not altered,
consequently the common but ambiguous German
expression, Verriicktes Zeitmasz (deranged time)
is not appropriate, for the time of the bass has not
been disturbed, the notes of the melody only
having been displaced.
"Even in cases such as shown at (e) and (/),
which are evolved from example (d) by the
addition of notes, both parts come together again at
the end of the bar, and there is no real disturbance
of the time :
r"5 f
**msi.
•:•-**-%
;p=s=
W
1 f !
T
gg^Bfe m
~rx
(/>
"This Tempo Rubato must be applied cautiously,

for it might easily render the harmony faulty.
The example at (/) would not be tolerable in very
ORNAMENTATION 287
slow time. Another kind of Tempo Rubato is

produced by the displacing of the accent, when the
emphasis which should be given to the good notes
is transferred to the bad notes for example, if one ;
plays as at (g) instead of the usual way (h), or (i)
instead of (k) :
„ (r) (*) (') (*)
P f P f f P f P
" Undue the text, o"r rather

licences with
distortions possibly be allowed,
of it, cannot
unless the composer has given explicit instructions
to that effect."
In the last edition of C. Ph. E. Bach's
" Versuch, &c," published in 1797, after the death
of the author and eight years after Turk's book,
there is a chapter on Tempo Rubato which agrees
with the above, but from which the following
additional indications can be gleaned :
" The Tempo Rubato applies better to dissonant

than to consonant harmony it should be used in ;
sad and tender phrases. A player with judgment

and feeling will easily discover the degree of
irregularity suitable to the occasion. When the
keyboard instrument is played without accompani-
ment, the bass may be allowed occasionally to
alter the time. There is no harm in this so long
as the harmony remains undisturbed. One who
has mastered the Tempo Rubato will find no
difficulty in the playing of irregular numbers of
notes, in groups of 5, 7, 11, &c. he will know how ;
to take a greater or smaller number according to

his fancy."
SECTION XII.
ACCIACCATURA, PlNCE EtOUFFE, ZtJSAMMEN-
TATTO.
SCHLAG,
This is a very interesting ornament about which
few of the old books contain any information.
There is no true English name for it. The Italian
verb acciaccare means to crush or scrunch. The
word acciaccatura, besides its musical sense, means
the pressure given to the pen in calligraphy to
produce a thick stroke. It is therefore suggestive
of emphasis and accent. The French Pince etouffe
literally means a " choked mordent," and the
German Zusammenschlag means "striking together."
This ornament is related to the mordent and
short appoggiatura, but in some of its aspects is
different from both. It can only be used upon
keyboard instruments, for it is performed by
striking at the same time with a principal key
another one a semitone below it, the sound of the
latter being made as short as possible, whilst the
principal note held for its normal value. A
is
sharp discord is thus produced which nothing

could equal as a means of emphasis, and which if
well used in combination with chords, enriches the
harmony with strange and powerful discords,
entirely independent of either preparation or
resolution. It is very valuable on the harpsichord,
clavichord, and organ.
Francesco Geminiani, in his " Rules for
playing in a True Taste," &c, Op. viii., c. 1735,
says : " With respect to the Thorough -Bass
on the Harpsichord In accompanying
grave movements, he should make use of the
Acciachature, for these rightly placed have a
wonderful effect. ."
. .
ORNAMENTATION 289
A Treatise of Good Taste in the Art of
In "
Musick," 1749 (the privilege being dated 1739),
Geminiani has the following :
"The Acciaccatura is a Composition of such

Chords as are dissonant with respect to the
fundamental Laws of Harmony; and yet when
disposed in their proper place produce that very
Effect which it might be expected they would
destroy.
" No Performer therefore should flatter himself
that he is able to accompany well until he is a
Master of this delicate and admirable Secret which
has been in use for above a hundred years and of ;
which many Examples may

be found in the Book
which I have compos'd for that Instrument (the
Harpsichord).
" The Example which follows, has however
something in it peculiar, as it serves to specify a
signature called Tatto, which has a very great and
singular Effect in Harmony, and which is perform'd
by touching the key lightly, and quitting it with
such a Spring as if it was Fire."
'
' Examples op the Acciaccature as Passages of Melody, Appoggiature
and Tatto for the Harpsichord Observe, those notes with this mark
:
-- -* are to be play'd with one stroke of the fingers or by touching

the chords successively from ye lowest Note upwards
'
'
:
Right Hand
^--&tf
to
-
Pig
=58
t et
-JTJ-—^
Left Hand. Comb, of Chords.
*p>-
SeH rf
Ground.
^35 3=
1
ago 17TH AND i8th CENTURY MUSIC

A ecu.
=-- Td*"^- ^ -
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g^-
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pElE ;=" §3^335-

rr" . i
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7 7
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m i!
ORNAMENTATION 291
nran-ferag p=
w'•pi p ^pg^ 3&

= oi""~^r3
i
:
*&—^r
~ar
=i£=
J» li.
sat "77"
|=-^_^^^ ^^^
-
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M
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7
mm
7
zfe^z
iL
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V*
Appa.
No author but Geminiani seems to have used
the word Tatto. It means literally touched,
and is equivalentto the French Tactee (see
" Silences d' Articulation," page 318).
This Tatto is the true acciaccatura, whilst
Geminiani's acciaccatura corresponds to the
passing-notes of the figured arpeggio (see
page 269). Some of his chords contain six
notes each hand, and others which only-
for
have seem, nevertheless, unplayable in the
five
ordinary way; but they can all be done, in some
cases by playing two notes with the thumb, which
does not prevent the release of the auxiliary note,
or by sliding a finger from the acciaccatura to the
next harmony note.
His quadruple appoggiatura appears rather
formidable, but it sounds rich and effective if
well done.
D'Anglebert, whose Table of Ornaments is so
complete in other respects, does not mention the
acciaccatura ; yet he uses it frequently and in a
masterly way, especially in those fascinating
unmeasured free Preludes which are as yet
inviolate from modern editors. In the excerpts
given below, the resemblance of the notation
to the example from Geminiani above cannot
fail to be noticed. It points the way to their
interpretation, which is nevertheless beset with
:
difficulties.
Their realisation in ordinary notation being
impossible, an opposite method
adopted here, is
which, by showing their bare harmonic structure,
will enable a performer fairly conversant with
interpretation to understand the ornamental
clothing indicated by D'Anglebert's text.
ORNAMENTATION 293
The first two lines and the conclusion of the
firstPrelude are given. In the latter, a line
between two notes respectively in the treble and
bass will be seen. It indicates that these two notes
must be played together; and inversely, that the
others should not :
Prelude I., J. H. D'Anglebert, 1689.

Original Text.
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32.j.
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Harmonies.
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mz &± -&-i-
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ORNAMENTATION 295
P g—^ »-" î-
^ -0-5-
^
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i ^^-fs^—oz*3— #=5f-«—j-^-e-^d:
^ *mlT
—
&c.
O Q Q-
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•

End of same Prelude.
Original text.
9 ~C3~
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Harmonies.
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ORNAMENTATION 297
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W-P—m ~rr rr
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te
ORNAMENTATION 299
Examples of acciaccature are not rare in late
17th and 1 8th century music. The auxiliary notes
are often written like the harmony notes, the result
to the uninitiated being chords comparable to the
most venturesome of the present time. But in
those days of figured basses everybody knew
at least enough harmony to distinguish the
acciaccatura from the principal notes. Even now
many players would be able to do the same if they
stopped to think, but this is a thing they do not
often do.
Here follow a few examples in which arrows
point to the acciaccature. It should be
remembered that there is no need to break
all the chords, even though they contain
acciaccature some cases they may be slightly
;
in
broken, but on short chords in a lively movement
it is quite impossible. The chords, however, can
never be so short that the acciaccature cannot be
made a little shorter still and the smallest ;
difference is sufficient to render the intended

effect :
" Six Sonatas per il cembalo solo "
(Nuremberg). Sonata II. Dom. Scarlatti.
3 tr
jggâi^ggi
u
3 oo i
>.
±5fcfcttE±EE&.'
* fe=d*tfe£=i=
dementi's Edition, Sonata IV.
jfeteîî g
-i SI «-,
»|BE -SI-
-^pr
John Johnson's Edition,

Vol. ii., page 18.
mm L J
2* *—
jee
Sarabande from Partita VI. J. S. Bach.

t Ki SOt
W£&
fct
ORNAMENTATION 30I
î=^|S
Execution
*
m ^
Scherzo from Partita III. J. S. Bach.
R*I
$± -•=&
1
i**3^: m a
m£f
35 ^--> Ig SESEET
C. Ph. E. Bach, " Versuch, &c," 1753, says :
§ 3. There is yet another way of

" Mordents.
playing a mordent when it must be made very
short. The two notes of the following example
being struck together, the higher only is held,
the lower being instantly released :
This manner of playing need not be avoided

so long as it is used less frequently than other
mordents. It can only be done ex abrupto,
that is, unbound to the preceding note."
In Fr. Wilh. Marpurg's " Principes du Clavecin,"
1756, Chap, xix., § 2, we find this " Instead of :
playing the two keys alternately, they are often

struck both at the same time but the auxiliary
;.
— —

note isonly held for half its value, so that the
principal note may be heard alone afterwards.
The manner of doing this is shown in the following
example :
i i
This kind of mordent is called Pince etouffe, in
Italian A and it is much used in the
cciaccatura,
bass. When changing from piano to forte, it can
be used successfully to reinforce the harmony."
SECTION XIII.
Compound Ornaments.
§ i. Compound ornaments are frequently used;
some of them are easily understood, others not.
Among former are the Appoggiatura and
the
Shake, in which the appoggiatura consists of the
first note of the shake made longer than the others.
As this is the way most shakes should be made,
and it has been explained before, there is no need
to say much about it.
John Playford, 1655, Christopher Simpson and
Dr. Ch. Coleman, 1659, and Th. Mace, 1676,
call thisgrace Back-fall shaked, and use no other
sign for but that of the back-fall.
it
In Henry Purcell's " Lessons," 1696, the

information given is as follows :
" Plain note and shake thus :
3=
ORNAMENTATION 3o3
Explain'd thus
Jean Henri d'Anglebert, 1686, and Dandrieu,

c. 1 7 10, call this ornament Tremblement appuye.
J. Ph. Rameau, 1731, calls it Cadence appuyee all
u
;
three indicate it by this sign :
Francois Couperin, 1713, also uses the name

Tremblement appuye, but gives no other sign than
that of the shake in fact there is no need of a
;
special sign, since according to his clear directions,

every shake, excepting only the short ones, begins
with the " appui."
Th. Muffat, 1726, Marpurg, 1750, and J. S. Bach,
1720, use the sign given above, U*v; the last-
named also uses this sign Cw, and in the
" Klavier-Biichlein vor Wilhelm Friedemann
Bach," he mentions this ornament as follows :
l^*v
it
Accent u.
Idem.
trillo.
$ -mr^rn
In the frequent cases, found in the works of most

composers, when the sign for the appoggiatura is
followed by that of the shake, the appoggiatura
must be played as if it were alone the shake ;
takes place on what is left of the principal note.

— — '

§ 2. If a mordent is preceded by an ascending
appoggiatura we have the appoggiatura and
mordent. Many composers, including Th. Muffat
and J. S. Bach, use this Grace, indicating it by
their usual signs for the appoggiatura and the
mordent. The treatment of such cases is simple.
The appoggiatura must be given its full value,
first, as usual, then the mordent is performed. It
would be useless to give detailed examples. But
in the following cases there are peculiarities of
signsand names which have to be studied, although
they bring no new effects.
John Playford, 1655, Christopher Simpson, and
Dr. Ch. Coleman, 1659, give this :
m
" A
p_^^gÊ>--^^F^P=:
shaked Beat, Explan."
In PurcelPs "Lessons," 1696, we find:
• A beat is mark'd thus : explain'd thus :

'
=p
i
How troublesome that our usual sign for a
shake *w should thus be misapplied !
D'Anglebert brings together his signs for

the appoggiatura ( (cheute) and the mordent ) "
"
(pince) ) which, placed severally on each side of the
note, produce the figure c
( f) so frequently seen
not only in his works, but in those of Rameau,
Mondonville, and others :
ORNAMENTATION 305
J. H. D'Anglebert, 1689.
Itei Cheute et
pi nee.
^=Ie
Ch. Dieupart, c. 1735, also uses this sign, named

Port de voix et pince, and he gives it in English as
" forefall beat."
Fr. Couperin seems to consider the mordent
as indispensable to the appoggiatura, since he
does not even mention the former in his
examples :
Fr. Couperin, 1713.
is =t
Port de voix
simple.
P^& ise_±
Port de voix
double.
iî
5&E
gl iMm
Effet. Effet.
Dandrieu uses a special sign which is graphic

enough, but restricted to himself :
Dandrieu, c. 1710.
$
o*f-
Port de voix
et pince.
^^
Rameau, 1731, uses the same sign as D'Anglebert
(see above), but illogically calls the ornament
Pince et port-de-voix, although he would certainly
have objected if the pince had been played first.
— : — —
3 o6 17TH AND i8th CENTURY MUSIC

Rousseau, in his " Dictionnaire de Musique,"
J. J.
1772, uses the names Port de voix and Port de voix
jette, and only indicates the appoggiature in the
same manner as Couperin (see above) :
J. J. Rousseau, 1772.
I m
Port-de-voix. Port de voix jette.
--&-
~¥=i=W^ =P=i=P=
£=t EffiEE
§ 3. The Shake and Turn, or Turned Shake, is
a common ornament. Its form :
being already familiar to us, no technical explana-

tions are required. It has been considered as a
shake and turn :
or as a shake*-and mordent
PESP
but the oldest and best way is to regard it as
a shake with its natural termination, as it was
in the earliest period covered by this book, when
its name was " Groppo " (see p.
154).
This ornament
given in Th. Mace's " Musick's
is
Monument," 1676, under the name of Single Relish.
The author says (page 107) that it is generally
ORNAMENTATION 307
done upon the Ascension and Descension of a third,
thus :
Ascending Descending.
The appoggiatura should be short, according to

the custom of that time, and a shake upon the
dotted note is implied in both examples.
A most interesting and beautiful ornament which
for want of a better place will be included in the
present category, is the Double Relish. It seems to
have been little known out of England, where it
was very popular during the 17th century.
Christopher Simpson, in the " Division- Violist,"
second edition, 1665, gives the following foreign
equivalents for it :
English : Double Rellishes. Latin : Teretismi.

French : Des Cadences de nceuds et tremblemens.
Italian : Cadenze di Groppo e Trillo. And among
the " Shaked graces," page 16: Double Relish,
Crispata Cadentia.
The following explanations are taken from
Playford's " Introduction to the Skill of Music,"
1654, &c. The original long bars have been
divided to facilitate the reading :
—
Double Relish.
Explanation.
Of these two versions the second was the more

popular.
— —
Similar examples are found in Ch. Simpson's
" Division Violist," under the authority of
Dr. Charles Coleman, with the only difference
that the sign indicating the second version is given
thus :
i ^ P- ._—-!=£:
In Th. Mace's " Musick's Monument," page 108,

the following excellent explanation of the Double
Relish is given. It is here translated from the
Lute Tablature, and Mace's comments are

appended verbatim :
The Plain Notes.
i =d_=3
Their Explanation.
" All this, is but called the Double Relish

expressing those 3 Plain Notes.
" In Encient Times, the Well, and True
Performance of It, upon the several Keys,
throughout the Instrument, (either Lute, or Viol)
was accounted an Eminent piece of Excellency,
though now, we use it not at all in our
Compositions for the Lute.
" However, I shall commend the private use,
and practice of it, to all Practitioners, as a very
ORNAMENTATION 309
Beneficial piece of Practice, for the command of

the Hand. And
although the very Shape, and
Fashion of it, be not at this Day in General use
yet I will set down such allusions to it, or such
kind of Dependences upon it, (when I come to give
further directions for the Hand) as shall pass with
very much Grace, and Modish-Good- Applause.'"
The further changes of names and signs of the
Shake and Turn will be seen in the following
synopsis :
J. H. D'Anglebert, 1689 : Tr emblement et Pince.

Sign ,».
Henry Purcell, 1696 : Turned shake. Sign ^.

Francois Couperin, 171 3 No name. Sign : <%.
Dandrieu, c. 1710 Cadence fermee. Sign *o

:
Rameau, 1731 Double Cadence. Sign /»»o

:
Th. Muffat, 1726 No name. Sign to:
Dieupart, c. 1735. Tremblement et pince

English : A shaked beat. Sign j"
Tosi, English translation by Galliard, 1723

Trillo-Mordente ; English : Shake with a
beat. No sign given.
J. S. Bach, Klavier-Biichlein vor W. F. Bach,
1720, Trillo und Mordant. Sign **f
(In his works he also uses Couperin's double
sign 05)
Fr. Wilh. Marpurg, " Die Kunst das Clavier
zu spielen." Berlin, 1750 Doppeltriller. :
Sign 00
French edition, 1756 : Le tremblement double.
Signs *o wZ> — —
**«8 «»
—
C. Ph. E. Bach, 1752, mentions the trill with a
termination (N achschlag) and gives the sign *u-
,
for it but he says that, the resemblance between

;
this sign and that of the mordent being likely to

bring confusion, he prefers to use the sign for
the trill only, leaving it to the player to
supply the termination. He frequently writes the
termination in plain notes, and many composers do
likewise. The figure :
is common.
i^
Whatever may be thesign to indicate the shake,
or there
if be no sign at all, the shake must be
performed according to the usual rules and ;
whatever may be the value of the terminal notes,

they must be played at the same rate as the shake
itself.
The Prallender Doppelschlag of C. Ph. E. Bach
should also be mentioned here. Its forbidding
name need not scare anybody, for it is a
pleasant Grace. Here is, in substance, what
C. Ph. E. Bach has to say about it :
—
" When the first two notes of a Turn (Doppel-
schlag) are repeated with the utmost rapidity, a
sudden shake (Prall-triller) is combined with it.
A Prall-triller ending with a Doppelschlag would
come to the same thing. This ornament gives
both grace and brightness to clavier playing. It
might be likened to a shortened and enlivened
turned shake. But the two must not be confused,
for they differ as much from one another as a
sudden shake, or a turn, differs from a regular
ORNAMENTATION 3ii
shake. In the following example my sign for this

ornament and its execution will be seen :
is r°M3:
=§§y
" This Prallender Doppelschlag is used without
or after an appoggiatura, but never otherwise than
a Prall-triller, namely, after a descending second
with which it must be connected smoothly and
softly —
00
Pi t=r
" As this compound ornament entails more

notes than the simple one, it will fill the time
of a rather long note and thus be preferable
;
to a Prall-triller in some cases. The first three

examples, Adagio, take the Prallender Doppelschlag
the last, Allegretto, takes the Prall-triller —
Adagio.
oo Allegretto.
CO
S=T
-P3- =£=]=
i
$ -jîct
-W=¥-'-
> I
The sign given by C. Ph. E. Bach to

his Prallender Doppelschlag had been used
by Couperin and others to indicate an ordinary
turned shake. " These ornaments must not
be confused ..."
savs C. Ph. E. Bach.
— —— •
3 i2 17TH AND i8th CENTURY MUSIC

Why, then, does he make confusion almost inevit-
able by taking the sign of the former ornament for
his new one ?
§ 4. Shakes
with or without terminations were
often combined with slides from below or above.
An interesting series of compound ornaments was
thus produced. In Playford's " Introduction " the
following are given : —
Shaked Elevation.
Explanation.
Shaked Cadent.
Explanation.
3r
Ch. Simpson gives the same names, signs, and

explanations, but he adds on page 11 a Latin
translation thus :
Shaked Elevation. Shaked Cadent.

Tremula Elevatio. Tremula Coalitio.
M. Locke, in " Melothesia," 1673, gives this sign

and name :
"-= A Forefall and Shake."
No explanation is given, but the following is the

only possible one :
The trill
i
may have
m$m
a termination.
ORNAMENTATION 3i3
The subject of Locke's beautiful Fugue, or rather

Fantasia, for the Organ (" Melothesia," No. 76),
opens with a forefall and shake upon which a
great part of the effect depends. The first eight
bars are given here, with their execution, as being a
most interesting example of ornamentation.
Of course, the beats of the long trill must not be
divided mathematically, and the tr should be short
and rapid, stopping on the dot when the note is
dotted :
"For the Organ" ("Melothesia "). M. Locke, 1673.
*r=
p
3 i4 i7 TH and i8th CENTURY MUSIC

Execution.
i E: tr
1_-#-p*»-pV ?m-fm f 0-*m-ft0-* ,-ftM»«-pW, -C-lZ—t T-1~ fr
^ÊfejEEE^£=EptpE
tr
z*z=j=-W=-
=t=t=t =*=*i
« tr
q==T= =E=t
fflv-r*V»-jW«7*-y m 1
w *_
rnÊ 3=c i—
ar»-*»Tr*-*r~*
E
*
#-1
ORNAMENTATION 3i5
The various forms, signs, and names of these

compound ornaments will be made clear in the
following synopsis :
J. H. D'Anglebert, i£
C/»*v
i
Cadence. Autre.
e** ~ <Uv
i =t
Double Cadence. Autre.
The turns in these examples are unusual, com-

prising two notes below the principal instead
of one above and one below. See the same
thing in Dieupart on the following page :
Clavier Buchlein fur W. F. Bach, 1720." J. S. Bach.
2=P
Doppelt Cadence. Idem.
$ Doppelt-cadence
und Mordant.
I
Th. MnFFAT, 1726.
§/** /*** /**"

r>
$ ±3E tt=t
-TCI5K
f=f-
5 g==zjJzg.-^j=g "*-afcgz
Ch. Dieupart, f, 1735.
$ -t
Double Cadence. A shake turn.
ORNAMENTATION 3i7
Signs.— F. W. Marpurg, 1750-56.
G** '
m lil
Le Tremblement coule en descendant.
(Execution for all these signs
Signs.
; — ; ;

experience acquired in the previous study of orna-
mentation will help their understanding. They
form a fitting conclusion to the present chapter.
It may be necessary to repeat that the book
is rather late (c. 1775), and therefore its
examples should only be applied with caution to
1
earlier music moreover, the silences d articulation

;
were then at the height of fashion and therefore

exaggerated.
Nothing could demonstrate more clearly the
advantages of a simple text, the interpretation of
which is understood, than its comparison with the
fearful complexity resulting from the. accurate
notation of every detail. It is true that the
simple text requires study and reflection but the
;
intelligence and taste of the student will benefit

thereby, and the time thus spent can amount only
to a fraction of that more or less cheerfully given
nowadays to the thoughtless and profitless practice
of scales and exercises.
In order that the notation of the tables may be
kept as simple as possible, the following con-
ventions have been used :
1. A dash ['] on any note denotes a " tactee "

;
in other words, it should be made as

short as possible
2. A dot ['•'] means that the note should be
held one-half, or a very little more, of

its value
3. A line [ — ] means that the note should be

held about three-quarters of its value
4.' Between all plain notes, a very short rest is
implied ;
5. Notes under a slur must be held to the

full extent of their value.
ORNAMENTATION 3i9
1. Cadence Detachee
Simple.
p^f=T=t£k=&=^ tUL&^
2. Cadence Detachee
^^
Double.
f^rr^^=^^^pL!L!^^-^^ ^
:
3. Cadence Liee Simple.
4. Cadence Liee Double

-«=-: —
5. Cadence Appuyee
et Detachee.
6. Cadence Appuyee
et Liee.
7. Cadence Ouverte
et Detachee.
8. Cadence Ouverte
et Liee.
9. Cadence Je-ttee-
3 20 17th AND i8th CENTURY MUSIC
10. Cadence Finalle.
11. Pince Simple et

Detache.
13. Pince en Port de

Voix.
|^H=gipEEJ^Ê£==iE= !
^
14. Chutes de Pinces
-m m-
18. Port de Voix.
19. Port de Voix Pince

et Lie.
ORNAMENTATION 321
20. Port de Voix Pince

et Detache.
21. Port de Voix Simple.
22. Port de Voix Simple

avec Pince.
23. Accord de Tierces

Coulees en Montant.
I
24. Accord de Tierces

Coulees en Descendant.
25. Secondes Coulees.
26. Coups Secs.
27. Liaison de Deux

Nottes.
28. Liaison de Trois

Nottes.
;

29. Liaison de Quatre
Nottes.
SO. Harpege sur Deux

Nottes.
81. Harpege sur Trois

Nottes.
32. Harpege sur Quatre

Nottes.
33. Harpege Figure avec

une Note d'Emprunt.
34. Harpege Figure avec

Deux Notes d'Emprunt.
^ss^-ssgf
The first twenty examples need no comment

but the last five are startling, for
the interpretation
practically destroys the original chords, and trans-
forms them into mere successions of notes. The
translation adopted in Exx. 30 and 31 would lend
itself easily to some lengthening of the notes, if
such were deemed advisable but if applied to the
;
example following, it would have resulted in a

ORNAMENTATION 323
maze of complications on account of the chords

being in three and four parts with acciaccature
intermixed. At any rate, the notation employed
represents faithfully the original diagrams.
In Exx. 23 and 24, the cases appear very similar
to the above, but here the notes of the chords are
fully sustained.
There is in Dom Bedos a diagram of the
execution of the " Romance de M r
. Balbastre,"
which abounds in interesting cases of interpretation
under its various aspects. It is a fairly long piece,
and cannot be quoted here, but it is given in the
Appendix.
SECTION XIV.
Divisions.
Some knowledge of divisions is necessary to the
understanding of the old music. Much of the
1 6th and 17th century music is based upon
divisions. The Italian music up to the latter
part of the 18th century can hardly exist without
them, and they contribute largely to the art of
accompanying on a figured bass.
The admirable Treatise of Christopher Simpson,
" The Division- Viol," second edition, 1665, resumes
in a perfectly lucid and thorough manner all that
preceded it it will therefore greatly facilitate our
;
study. We shall quote it verbatim, but we shall

leave out the parts relating to Descant, these being
outside our subject.
Page 28, §3. " Breaking the Ground. Breaking
the Ground is dividing its Notes into more diminute
notes. As for instance, a Semibreve may be broken
into Two minims, foure Crotchets, eight Quavers,
sixteen Semiquavers, &c.
!

" This Dividing a Note admits
Breaking or
divers ways of expression, according to the divers
ordering and disposing the Minute parts thereof.
" Five ways of Breaking a Note. First, when
there is no variation of Sound, by reason of the
Minutes standing still in the same place, or
removing in the Octave, which I accompt but the
same Tone. Ex. i.
" Secondly, when the Sound is varyed, and yet
the Ayre retained, either by a quick return, or by
keeping near to the place of the Note divided.
Ex. 2.
Ex. I. Chr. Simpson.
Ground. Division.
M SBEEEt •*-* — #-
Ex. 2.
4# *sss s
Ground. Division. Ground.
fegjg*
Division.
Ground.
S
FH ii
^^LtLâ
£Z;l i i
— t— FT
mm
-*^--rq
Division. Ground.
-P~*~P-
Division
"Thirdly, when the Minute Notes are employed

in making a Transition to the next Note of the
ORNAMENTATION 325
Ground as you see in the following Examples,
;
where Notes are broken to all the several distances,

both ascending and descending :
Ex. 3.
m j -
1
;
i^ps
Division.
zt 1-J—H-a-e-
Jtt
-rj-
I Ground.
221 zefc 221
feig^ -» * — :*=£*
R=»
-7^-
-TJ-
§zS=S ipzfzpzs:
t=t±=f=
P=- jcpzpz^:
t=£=t z£:
Division.
2E
Ground.
'-pa
i&i l=ti
E£ m
&=£=£ -KHS-
^g a
fgE :PE =P=
S cfc 5
« —H.
P
Division.
p--fr-j:
I£3fc
:c£ zs=t
Ground.
ORNAMENTATION 327
't±— fc£2-r^-
iîpiip^îpss
$
fm^m t-m-T+t+F'-îs-
Wflt^t
s
is
*=»=
^=HH
f
=P=
^S^ÊSg^^^S^
J2_
^ l
£e
i
-ra^g^^
z£~cfc
i
1H
p
" I have set some part of the Example in a
higher because this Breaking a Note by way
Cliff,
of Transition, holds good in higher Parts as well
as in the Bass.
ORNAMENTATION 329
" Fourthly, when the Minutes are imployed in
skipping into other Concords, as you see in breaking
these four Semibreves : —
Ex. 4.
-«-kUf
EÊ
-
-£>*
-i-p
££ 343=
^fe â _d-»_lJ
Division.
Sas=®:
Ground.
" Fifthly, when the said Minutes make a Gradual

Transition into some of the Concords, passing
from thence, either to end in the Sound of the
Holding note,* or else, moving on to meet the next
Note of the Ground. And though this moving into
the Concords, be the very same as Descant, so long
as it continues in that Motion yet in regard of its
;
returning either to its own Note, or to meet the next

following Note in nature of a Bass, we must here
rank it under the name and notion of Breaking the
Ground. The manner of it you may see in these
following Instances. Ex. 5.
[* Holding-Note, Standing-Note, Ground-Note, and

Note divided, are the same.]
Ex.5.
m^ 22T Ff^F1*-^ ??&&z

Ground. These Divisions pass up These to the 5th.
to the 3rd.
These to the 8th. These to a 3rd higher.

—
These to a 5th higher. These to a 3rd.
These to a 5th. These to an 8th.
m ?&
&S^
33£
ISgSElLml
These to a 3rd higher. These to the 4th below.
m^ ^ lllfeSfe*p5
These to a 6th below. These to the 8th below.
£^=
W^- 4=t -*-*- 231 3=Ft
j-
=t
=fc=:
it,
These into concords both above and below.
The chief Mysterie

" of Division to a Ground
may be referred to these three Heads. First, that
it be harmonious to the holding Note. Secondly,
that it come off so, as to meet the next Note of the
Ground a smooth and natural passage. Thirdly,
in
Or if it pass into Discords, that they be such as are
aptly used in Composition. As thus :
gs^j
Ex. 6.
#:acficfp..p.
ss
This Division passes into a 4th.
E â
r- J !
®t- ^
XT
ORNAMENTATION 33i
" How Division is made harmonious to the

Holding-Note, was shewed in the Fifth way of
breaking a Note. And the Bringing it off to meet
the next Note of the Ground, is much after the
same way, viz., by making the last three, or more
of the Minute Notes (at least Two of them)
ascend or descend by degrees, unto the next
succeeding Note, as you see here following, where
the Semibreve in G is broken to all the distances in
an Octave. Ex, 7. This holds good, be the
Division quicker or slower Onely that in quick
;
Division more of the minutes will offer themselves

in making this Gradual transition to the succeeding
Note, as you see in the Semi-quavers of the
following instances. Ex. 7 :
Ex. 7.
w& £ *££ =t=a- *flF

2nd. or thus. 2nd.
-m--0- •*--?-
m=&*s ESE
3rd.
£§ — —
or thus. -I
I I-
3rd.
-,--«- »- -!
sûu Lr^f s
5th. or thus, &c. 5th.
^^-l 6th. 6th.

—
wm eg?
3&r=F
32Z
«
7th. ^
W^ S
8ve.
©
Ground.
"-m- S3^Sf*^F=?^
=p=» Z3~
2nd.
m—m-
s^tgfEg
15 -j-r—«-
c£B '—' 3rd. u #r 3rd.
@r~rms^
f^
4th. 4th.
wm^S^mmm 6th.
mt t:
^ — »-
6th, &c. Ground.
-•- #- -m-
2nd.
m- -ft-
-^ f fr'
^pf' ^^^g^ 32==:
3rd.
ORNAMENTATION 333
1-4
^J-JT^
«=p^
I aptl
4th, &c.
" By this which hath been shewed, you see (I

suppose) what belongs to Breaking a note but
:
this requires not only a Notion but a Habit

also, which must be got by practice. Wherefore
I would have you prick down some easy Ground
and break each Note making a Transition still
from Note to Note, according to what hath been
delivered. To the better effecting whereof, I will
set you an Example, with which take these
Advertisements.
" First, That your Division be carried on
smoothly, as we have formerly admonished; and
that your Flats and Sharps have still relation to
the Key and Ayre of your Ground.
" Secondly, you are to consider that a Seventh or
Sixth falling is the same as a Second or Third
rising, and so you may consider all other distances,
with their opposite Octaves. And therefore you
may choose whether you will meet any succeeding
Note of the Ground, in the Unison, or in its Octave
above or below it ;for, concerning Octaves, the
reason is still the same.
" Lastly, as your Division passes into the Third
and Fifth, whilst it moveth above (by which it
is made harmonious to the Ground Note)
so, in
moving beneath, it must pass into the under

— —

Octaves of those Concords, viz., into the Sixth
and Fourth below the Ground-Note. Thus :
Ex. 8.
S
Ground. Divisions.
fe ^=^C
^S 3=c
S ffi
^| -*-*- ^3* S3S

»-*- -cr
These things being known, you may break

"
your Ground in such manner as follows where ;
you have the Division placed over the Ground,

that you may better observe the breaking of each
note :
An example of Breaking the Ground.

Ex. g.
W$=t
=P=^ £=S £z
EB
Division.
i.
mr
Ground.
fW— pa—ar—»-rf 1—
ORNAMENTATION 335
2. UJJ *
m jC2Z
m^. m
@fc=te== 3^3H
p^
3.
-4=-
î^S ^-f-^p-
p=
r
E^fe
mr
— — F-
^ 3 d.
^sd^t
ggf L
R
—i i
^ E
S s ^^pn^ling
s^tb
te
IiPp=
%
?==&
ir-^î.
im
^^-^
33Z
m~z fe==
^pjj^ggf^p
SEE*
f==q=s
«355F!=»
^ g^fÊî^-
=t=p=
ORNAMENTATION 337
" Here you see every Note of the Ground broken
according to some One or Other of those five ways
before-mentioned only I have made the Division,
;
in one place, to meet the Ground-Note in the

Third, and in another place in the Fifth both
;
which are marked out for your imitation, when the

Point, or any other convenience shall invite you
thereunto.
" Here a doubt may arise, concerning the
Seventh above and the Second below the Divided-
Note; which, in the Division, is sometimes made
Sharp, and suddenly Flat again, according to its
own nature in which doubts the Ear must always
:
be chief umpire. Howbeit, in this particular,

something (I think) may be deliver'd by way of
Rule ; which is, that if we descend to a Second
and immediately ascend again, the Second must
be made Sharp The same is understood of the
:
Seventh above, in reference to the Eighth, as you

may see in breaking the two Semibreves in D :
Ex. 10.
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3=g T3~
m
— ;

" Here your Ear will tell you that the note in C
requires a Sharp but, in the second Instance,
:
where the next Note does not ascend, no Sharp

is required.
" From this Rule we must except, that if the
Ground do suddenly rise or fall to a Flat Second
or fall a Third, or make a Cadence in these cases
:
no Sharp is required, though the Note rise again,

as you may see in these Instances :
Ex. II.
^fe^^S=i^=SEi^=l
(a)
W^
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i I
ORNAMENTATION 339
(a thing most frequent) the Bass, by such Running
down by degrees, doth make two prohibited Eights
to the said Part :
Ex. 12.
8 8 8 8
Ground.
J3J5i x]d^
Division not allowed.
^
Not allowed.
Z£
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Allowed. Allowed.
m
" Though this Running down by degrees, be
worse a Consort-Bass, than in Division to
in playing
a Ground ; yet in this also it doth not want in bad
consequence the Organist commonly joyning such
:
Parts to his Ground, as the Composer doth unto

his Bass."
Simpson, though so complete, has, however,
omitted one rule of some importance. It can,
happily, be supplied from his own " Compendium
of Musick," 1665, page 51 :—
" Two, Three, or more Notes, standing together
in the same Line or Space may be considered
as one intire Note and consequently capable of
;
Transition " :
Ex. 13.
—
We shall now let Quantz carry on Ch. Simpson's
teaching. He says :
Chap, x., § 15 :
" . . . The pieces in the
French style are most part characterized
for the
and composed with appoggiature and ornaments
in such a manner that hardly anything can be
added to the text whilst in
; the Italian music
much is left to the will and capability of the
player. For this reason, the execution of
the French music such as it is written, with its
simple melody, and ornaments in preference to
passages, is more binding and difficult to play than
the Italian music, such as it is written nowadays.
However, because it is not necessary for the
execution of French music to know Thorough
Bass or Composition, whilst on the contrary this
knowledge is indispensable for the Italian music,
on account of certain passages which are written
in a very dry and simple manner, so that the
player may vary them according to his ability
and judgment, it is better to advise the student
not to play soli in the Italian style prematurely
and until he has some knowledge of Harmony,
for otherwise his progress may be impeded
thereby."
Chap, xiii., § 1 "I have explained the differ-
:
ence between a melody composed in the Italian

style and one in the French style, with regard, to
Ornamentation. We
have seen at chap. x. that
the Italian music is not written with all its
ornaments like the French, to which it is hardly
possible to add any new ornament. There are,
besides the essential ornaments already seen, other
ornaments which are dependent upon the will and
skill of the player."
ORNAMENTATION 341
Quantz thereupon proceeds to fill thirty-four

large pages of text and fourteen plates of examples
with an analysis of the various Divisions to be
added to a simple text in the Italian style. We
cannot follow him in this. Many of his Divisions
are contained in Simpson, and the others follow
the same principles. Three practical examples,
each forming a complete piece, given in the
.
Appendix, will suffice to give the student a good

idea of what should be done in such cases. These
examples consist of two slow movements from the
sixth sonata of Corelli, with the ornamentation as
played by the composer himself, from the edition
published by Roger, of Amsterdam, and a solo for
the flute by Quantz, from his " Versuch." In each
case the variation is accompanied by the plain
text, to facilitate comparison.
CHAPTER V.
FIGURED BASSES.
Basso Continuo, Thorough-Bass, Basse Chiffree,
General-Bass.
—
Note. The reader is supposed to have some knowledge of Practical
Harmony.
The practice of accompanying upon the Figured

Bass did not come into use much before 1600. In
the 1 6th century, accompaniments were played to
all kinds of vocal and instrumental music upon the
organs, harps, lutes, chittaroni, viols of all kinds,
and combinations of these. But the accompanist
either played from a fully written out part, a
method restricted almost entirely to instruments
of the lute kind, or filled up by ear a plain bass
part, or played from a full score when available.
About Figured Bass proper, " General Bass "
as he calls it, Pra^torius gives detailed instructions
covering some forty pages of the third volume of
his " Syntagma Musicum," 1619. At page 144 he
gives a noble example of the bass of the second
part of his motet, " Wir glaiibens," filled up by
himself. It is reproduced below. The working
out is free, not only with regard to the number
FIGURED BASSES 343
of parts, but in the progression of the parts. It is

just right for effect but it would not get a high ;
number of points in a musical examination :
'
Syntagma Musicum," 1619. Prêtorius.
Risolutio.
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—
Many 17th and 18th century books treat of the
Figured Bass but for the most part they only
;
teach how to build the chords in four parts from

the figures and how to connect them faultlessly
together. They hardly say anything about the
practical and artistic sides of the question, which
depend upon a more or less conventional freedom
of treatment, and which constitute the life and
beauty of the accompaniment.
A fair amount of information can, however, be
brought together on these points. Thomas Mace,
to begin with, has some excellent advice to give,
and good examples to show, as will be seen
hereafter. His " Theorboe-Man " is one who can
make an accompaniment on the Theorbo from
the figured bass; all that is said about him
applies to the organist or cembalist, only that on
keyboard instruments the hands are much less
restricted than on lutes, and therefore the task is
easier.
" Musick's Monument," 1676, page 217:
" Now you must know, that He who would be a
Compleat Theorboc-Man, must be able to understand
Composition (at least) so much of it, as to be
;
able to put True Chordes together, and also False,

in their proper Times, and Places ; and likewise to
know, how to make all kinds of Closes, amply and
properly. And to assist you in that Particular,
I shall only refer you to Mr. Christopher Simpson's
late and very Compleat Work ; where you may
inform your self sufficiently in that matter, who
hath sav'd me a Labour therein for had it not
;
been already so Excellently done by Him, I should

have said something to it, though (it may be) not
so much to the purpose but my Drift is not
;
FIGURED BASSES 345
to Clog the World with anything that is already
done, especially so well.
"... But still you must further Know,
that Greatest Excellency in this Kind of
the
Performance, lies beyond whatever Directions can
be given by Rule.
The Rule is an Easie, Certain, and Safe Way
"
to walk by but He that shall not Play beyond
;
the Rule, had sometimes better be Silent ; that is,

He must be able, together with the Rule to lend
his Ear, to the Ayre and Matter of the Composition
so, as (upon very Occasions) He must
many
forsake His Rule ;and instead of Conchords,
pass through all manner of Discords, according
to the Humour of the Compositions he shall
meet with.
" The Thing will require a quick Discerning
Faculty of the Ear, an Able Hand; and a Good
Judgment. The ist of which must be given in
Nature ; the 2 last will come with Practice,
and Care :
Ex. Th. Mace, 1676.
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FIGURED BASSES 347
Ex. 5. •***
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FIGURED BASSES 349
Ât the end of D'Anglebert's "Pieces de
Clavecin," 1689, amongst the instructions for
playing from a figured bass, which treat
principally of elementary harmony, there are
some useful things for us to learn. Thus, in
the first example, concerning common chords,
we can see how fully the chords were filled for
accompaniment upon the harpsichord. The
author is careful to state, however, that for the
organ four-part harmony is better.
Ex. 2 also shows richly-filled chords. In Ex.
3
we have a " General Example with all the
Ornaments," where the practical use of the
arpeggio, plain and figured, and the acciaccatura
are demonstrated. Ex. 4 shows an attempt by
the author at writing out in full the preceding
" General Example." Here the time values
of the notes are only approximative the ;
arpeggios can be made more or less close ;
they might come down again after going up ;
in fact, be treated as we have seen before

(page 271) :—
J. H. D'Anglebert, 1689.
-et-
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Ex.
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" Exemple general avec les agreemens.
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FIGURED BASSES
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In 1747, Jean-Baptiste Antoine Forqueray, a
famous French violist, published a collection of
viola da gamba pieces composed for the most part
——

by his father, Antoine Forqueray, who was a still
greater master. They

are printed in score, with
figured bass, to be played by a second viol, or
harpsichord, or both. The Preface says :
" My intention in publishing these Pieces being

to entertain three persons at the same time, and to
form a concert of two viols and a harpsichord, I
have thought proper to make the bass very simple

so as to avoid the confusion which might arise with
the bass of the harpsichord pieces, which I have
ornamented as much as possible."
This passage is made clear by the recent discovery
of a contemporary book containing the very same
pieces, arranged for the harpsichord in such a way
that they can be played with either or both of the
viol parts. We
thus actually possess a brilliant
harpsichord part, fully written out. few bars A
from one of the pieces given here below will show
the style of these accompaniments " :
'
La Mandoline. Antoine Forqueray, 1749.
Viola da
Gamba I.
(Not too fast, and in time.)
Viola da
Gamba II. &S
Fig. Bass. 7
JPi-$=^=q=p^— q=M —^fe= q-
Harpsichord
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fcfc
FIGURED BASSES 353
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—

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In 1753, Francesco Geminiani published: " The

art of Accompaniment, or A new and well digested
method to learn to perform the Thorough Bass on
the Harpsichord with Propriety and Elegance."
Op. 11. The work is in two books. From the
first we need only quote one paragraph from the
Preface, and one from the " Explanations to the
Examples " :
Preface, par. 4 :— " The Art of Accompagniament

consists in displaying Harmony, disposing the
Chords, in a Just Distribution of the Sounds
whereof they consist, and in ordering them after
a Manner, that may give the Ear the Pleasure
of a continued and uninterrupted Melody. This
Observation, or rather Principle, is the Ground
of my Method, which teaches the Learner to
draw from the Harmony, he holds under his
Fingers, diversified and agreeable Singings. This
Work will also be useful in leading the Learner
FIGURED BASSES 355
into the Method of Composing, for the Rules of
Composition do not differ from those of Accom-
pagniament :but the common Method of
Accompagniament gives the Learner no Hint of
the Course he is to take in Composing."
Page 2, Ex. 1 " I repeat here what I have said
:
in my Preface, that the Art of Accompagniament

chiefly consists in rendering the Sounds of the
Harpsichord lasting, for frequent interruptions of
the Sound are inconsistent with true melody. The
Learner is therefore to observe not to exhaust the
Harmony all at once, that is to say, never to lay
down all his Fingers at once upon the Keys, but
to touch the several notes whereof the chords
consist in Succession."
From the second volume we quote the
following :
Introduction, par. 4 "It will perhaps be

:
said, that the following Examples are arbitrary

Compositions on the Bass and it may be asked
;
how this arbitrary manner of accompanying can

agree with the Intention and Stile of all sorts of
Compositions. Moreover, a fine Singer or Player,
when he finds himself accompanied in this Manner,
will perhaps complain that he is interrupted, and
the Beauties of his Performance thereby obscured,
and deprived of their Effect. To this I answer
that a good Accompanyer ought to possess the
Faculty of playing all sorts of Basses in different
Manner, so as to be able, on proper occasions, to
enliven the Composition, and delight the Singer or
Player. But he is to exercise this Faculty with
Judgment, Taste, and Discretion, agreeable to the
Stile of the Composition, and the Manner and
Intention of the Performer. If an Accompanyer
—
thinks of but the satisfying his
nothing else
own Whim and Caprice, he may perhaps be
said to play well, but will certainly be said to
accompany ill."
Sir John Hawkins, in his " History of Music,"
vol. v., p. 239, reports that when Geminiani was
asked to play some of his violin sonatas before
King George I., he intimated a wish that Handel
might accompany him on the harpsichord, which
was granted. This shows that he admired
Handel's accompaniments, and therefore that
their style cannot have been far removed from
Geminiani's own.
The whole of Geminiani's second volume is
filled with examples exhibiting many varieties on
the same bass. They are generally linked with
one another in order to show, presumably, how
repeats can be joined together. The following
excerpts will give some idea of his way of
ornamenting the figured bass :
Ex. i. F. Geminiani.
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FIGURED BASSES 357
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FIGURED BASSES 359
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FIGURED BASSES 361
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A magnificent example of a harpsichord part

written by J. S. Bach exists in the second aria of
the cantata, " Amore Traditore" (" Bachgesell-
schaft," nth year, vol. ii., page 97). It is true that
the fact of its being an " obbligato " part, the only
one Bach thought worth his while to write out in
full, proves that he considered it as something
exceptional. However, many passages in it are
pure accompaniment, and it seems that anyone
thoroughly familiar with Bach's clavier technique
could not help feeling that this is the very way the
master himself would accompany an important
work. The opening of the first part and the end
of the second are reproduced here below. The
whole work ought to be thoroughly studied but ;
care should be taken to play from the original

" Bachgesellschaft " edition, and not from that of
the " New Bachgesellschaft," which has been
ruthlessly corrupted. Needless to say, the quavers
must be uneven in the proper places, the big
•

chords arpeggiated, trills added, especially in the
penultimate note of the voice part, an appoggiatura
from below placed before the last note of the
song, &c. : —
Cantata, " Amore Traditore. J. S. Bach.
tr
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FIGURED BASSES 363
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CHAPTER VI.
POSITION AND FINGERING.

Before the advent of pianoforte technique,
phrasing and fingering on keyboard instruments
were indissolubly connected. The only rules were
to use "good fingers" for "good notes," and to
order the fingers in such a way as to ensure easy
and smooth connection between notes which
required it. The phrasing suggested the fingering,
and the right fingering made it almost impossible
to phrase badly. With the ordinary modern
system of pianoforte fingering the proper phrasing
of the old music is always difficult —
frequently
impossible. It is therefore well worth trying to
discover the fingering in use at the time a certain
piece was composed, for it will help us to its right
understanding and easy performance.
There is no lack of information about the old
methods of fingering and the position of the body,
arms, and wrists. About 1600 there were two
different schools of fingering. They both agreed as
to the necessity of using good fingers for the good
notes, or in other words, of playing the accented
notes with the strongest fingers but whilst the
;
POSITION AND FINGERING 365
English considered the first (thumb), third, and

fifthas the best fingers, the Germans and Italians
gave the preference to the second and fourth.
The English fingering had greater resources than
the other it eventually superseded it and became
;
the foundation of the playing of Dandrieu,

Couperin, Rameau, J. S. Bach, and C. Ph. E. Bach.
The old German fingering is well exemplified in
Nicolaus Amerbach's " Orgel oder Instrumental
Tabulatur," 1571, from which the following
examples are taken. Note that the various ways
of numbering the fingers are translated in this
chapter into the usual scheme in which the thumb
is counted as " 1," and the little finger " 5," in both
hands :
Ex. 1.
Right hand.
2, 3
S ^^3 "*-^gr
Ex. 2.
4*-
3 2 2 3
Left hand.
X
, 9 , * 3 2 3 ^. A
232123212 321 2
— —

Ex. 4.
Right hand. »
&c„
3 a 3 4 3
Left hand.
Ex. 5.
Right hand.
S^^^î S
4 3 4 2 4 &c.
iHgp 2 3 ,2 4 2 &c
Left hand.
» -W —# f —s — #—*—*-#
Mi-
Ex. 6
3423234
i
Right hand.
5^
3 2 3 4 3
^^^=3E
2
2^2123242 *«=3212321
3 4
3 2
S
3 4
Left hand.
434 t »#1 m g-
—
-•-*- 2
;;
' 3 :'-
S=P* 1
^"~F~^"
i 2324 2321 2321 2324
r-*r
Ex. 7.
3 2343234XX
Right hand.
4 3 2
XX
3 3 2 3
3 2 3 4
Left hand.
4 3 3 8 4
^ Hill 3
O ,
^MBî^^BBB
» «, 3
., 2
/, 3
,_. 4
T 4
1 3
O A 3 /T\
*s 2323 23 2 1 „
2
'
3
—(
2 1
2 3 ~
^r~3'
2
Ex. 8.
Right hand. * 3
2 3 2 3 i 2
2 3 _3 1 3 2 3
$^=*=£
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Left hand.
2 1 2 3 13 13 2 1 2 3 4 3
4 3 2
—

Ex. 12.
Right hand.
24 2432
B
4
2
3 2
iTTI -
4 3
342342 34234
Left han'd
4
3
^^^jgpgp
4
2
3 2
32
4 3 2
3.2 3*23
4 3 2 4 3 2
The passing of the third finger over the second

in the left hand, and the second over the third in
the right, to be done smoothly and easily, requires
the hands to be turned towards the right. When
two consecutive notes are played with the same
finger, as shown under the crosses in Exx. 7, g,
and 10, the first note must be made short. The
different phrasings produced by the different
fingerings indicated in Ex. 9 should be noticed.
The first implies slightly detached notes of nearly
even value. The second, groups of three,
separated from one another. The same applies
to all the examples.
Amerbach gives the following rules for the
fingering of two simultaneous notes :
" Thirds in both hands should be played with

the second and fourth fingers. Fourths, Fifths and
Sixths with the second and fifth fingers. Sevenths,
Octaves, Ninths and Tenths with the Thumb and
fifth finger."
The use of the thumb is thus clearly restricted
by these rules, as well as by the examples given
above, to exceptional cases.
We shall now study Italian fingering in Diruta's

famous book. For the understanding of some
of the author's sayings it is necessary to examine
the conditions of virginal music in Italy in his time.
Few people realise that whilst in England the art
of virginal playing had reached such a perfection
that it could not develop further on the same lines,
it was in a backward state in Italy. The virginal
players were called " Sonatori di Balli," that is,
players of dances. "Music" was fit for the organ,
but dance-tunes were the proper thing for virginals,
and the difference between the two was clearly
marked. A large amount of Italian organ music
of that period is in existence profound, learned
;
canzone, toccatas, and ricercare, in which all the

resources of scholarship are employed. The
composers of such pieces were famous men such
as Andrea and Giovanni Gabrieli, Florenzio
Maschera, Luzzasco Luzzaschi, Diruta, and
Claudio Merulo.
Of music for the virginals there is very
Italian
little. Frescobaldi (1614) was almost an innovator
in that field. There are many dance-tunes the ;
roughness of their harmony, often a mere string

of consecutive fifths and octaves, is not inconsistent
with a rugged beauty and character, but was not
considered music by the Gabrielis and Merulos.
Two examples, given below, will show the style of
these dance-tunes. The first is an anonymous
Balletto, called " La Violetta," from a MS. in the
Strozziani collection at Florence. The second
is taken from the " Balli d'Arpicordo " of
Giovanni Picchi, 1621. It is worthy of remark
that Picchi was "organist of the Cathedral in
Venice,", and not a mere "dance-player," and
•

that the pieces were published seven years after
Frescobaldi's first volume : —
mm^fm^
'
La Violetta, " Balletto, c. 1580. Anon.
i 1 1 1
j- j -£^~
I
J I
mix -f fi-9-MZ
4=F I
I 1 1 I 1 1
8
4=t
I V
1-
*îr-a-
I I I-
=3=
,4 i J- .fcd-
=S=F:
3=1=
i 1=1:
•«* :*-*-
1 1
-*—2r =£:
-#—a-
Dal Segno JJ
-J-_J-
P^s;
=r
:
^
Ballo alia Polacha, 1621. Giovanni Picchi.
!=3=FR=I= # x ——I-
C^ ff
r
I
^'
——n i* ^ I
^
1
P
I
=** n-
f=r=R
I I 1 1
tefci
T T 1
i si -* — *- it pj- i=p=
* i ^--
=P=S ^ 1
-<S>- -•- 1 1
$^^ W &c.
m5=£
——
-tz=£:
£?"
^
(Despite the long notes in which these tunes are
written, they should be played in a lively manner,
with plenty of accent and an abundance of
" Silences d'articulation.")
Another proof of the backward state of the
Italian school of virginal playing can be adduced
from the instruments themselves. It will be seen
below that Diruta's first requisite for artistic playing
upon the " quilled instruments " (Stromenti da
Penna), as he calls them, is that they should
be delicately and evenly quilled. It is evident
by the " dance
that the ordinary instruments used
players" were provided with strong plectra, in
order to obtain the sharptone required for
dance tunes. But these render the touch
unpleasantly resistant and harsh the snap of
;
the quill is strongly felt by the finger. The keys

can no longer be caressed; they must perforce
be struck, and thus refined phrasing and elaborate
ornamentation become impossible. Conversely,
; —
; ; ;

the delicately regulated virginals are not effective
for dancing to, and for this reason the pipe
and tabor, the treble violin, or other powerful
instruments, were given the preference in England.
The first edition of G. Diruta's " II Transilvano,
Dialogo sopra il vero modo di sonar organi e
stromenti da penna" was published at Venice in
1597. A second edition appeared in 1615, and a
third in 1625. All three are very rare. shall We
quote now from the first edition.
The book begins with a Preface in which the
organ is extolled in eloquent words. Then follows
a letter from Claudio Merulo to the author, his
former pupil, commending and approving the
teaching in the book. The elements of musical
notation follow this, in the form of a dialogue, like
most books of instruction of that period and ;
Diruta proceeds to give " Rules for playing the

Organ with propriety and elegance." Here is a
summary of these rules :
a
" i The player should sit in the middle of
the keyboard
" 2°- His body and head should be held upright
and graceful, and there should be no
movement of either in playing
"
3
'
The arm should guide the hand both ;
should be held straight, neither being

higher or lower than the other, which
will happen when the wrist is kept at
the proper height
"4 U
-
The fingers should rest upon the keys,
slightly curved, not straight, and the
hand should be light and relaxed, or
cannot move with
else the fingers agility
and promptness
»»•
>i
5
'
And
lastly, the keys should be gently
depressed, never struck, and the fingers
withdrawn in lifting the key.
" Although these precepts may appear of little
or no moment, they are nevertheless of very great
utility in rendering the harmony smooth and sweet,
and freeing the organist from all impediments in
his playing."
To this 77 Transilvano, the pupil, says :
" I allow that these rules may be useful but ;
what can that do to the Harmony, whether your

head be straight or awry, or your fingers flat or
curved ?
" Diruta : They do
not affect directly the
Harmony, but the gravity and elegance of the
organist they are the cause of that admirable
:
combination of charm and grace so noticeable in

Signor Claudio Merulo. He who twists and turns
about shall be likened to the ridiculous actor in the
Comedy. Besides, the work of such a man will
not succeed as it might he prefers his own caprice,
;
and scorns true art, rendering difficult many things

which would otherwise be easy.
" Transilvano : And will the endeavours of other
good men who follow these rules succeed in the
same way as Signor Claudio ?
" Diruta: Without any doubt "
. . .
Then Transilvano questions again, and Diruta

repeats in other words his previous explanations,
ending thus :
—
" And how to hold the hands lightly,
and loosely on the keys, I shall give you an
example When you want to give an angry slap,
:
you use strength but if you mean to caress, you

;
use no strength, but on the contrary relax your

hand as for fondling a babe."
The difference of effect produced by pressing
or striking the keys is thus demonstrated by
Diruta : —
5—&— I r Jz^-r-V-g:
Buono (good). Cattivo (bad).
and he adds :
— " The bad organists who
strike the keys and raise their hands lose half
the harmony."
Now we shall learn from Diruta why the " Sonatori
di Balli " do not succeed in playing the organ, and
how it is possible to play musically upon the quilled
instruments.
"Diruta: The Council of Trent wisely forbade
the playing in churches of passemezzi and other '
'
light dances, and all lascivious songs. The profane

should not be mixed with the sacred, and such
performances could not be tolerated on the organ.
If by any chance some dance-player adventures
to try something musical on the organ, he cannot
refrain from striking the keys, whilst on the
contrary an organist finds no difficulty in playing
dance-tunes on the virginals.
" Transilvano But I cannot see why dance-
:
players could not succeed in playing music

on the organ whilst organists can play dance-
tunes well ?
" Diruta: Because the Sonatori who want
. . .
to play music on the organ have to observe all the

rules I have given about keeping the hands quiet
and relaxed, holding the notes, &c, which are
unfamiliar to them; whilst the organist who
wishes to play dances can easily make an
exception to the rules, especially that about

the jumping of the hands and the striking of
the keys and in due reason he should do so, for the
;
jacks and quills act better when struck, and this

manner of playing is required by the particular
style of the dances.
" Transilvano : But I wish to ask one more
question. Why is it that most organ-players do
not succeed in playing musically upon the virginals
as they do on the organ ?
" Diruta : There are many reasons for this, but
I will only give you the principal ; and I shall say,
first, that the instrument must be quilled evenly
and lightly, so as to speak easily. Its tone should

be lively and long-sounding, and the playing
adorned with shakes and all manner of graces.
The effect of the wind, which in the organ sustains
the tone, must be reproduced on the virginals ; for
example, a breve or a semibreve can be sustained
on the organ, but on the virginals more than
half the harmony is lost. You must therefore
endeavour with vivacity and dexterity of hand to
supply this defect by striking the key many times,
rapidly and lightly and, in short, he who would
;
play with propriety and elegance should study the

works of Signor Claudio [Merulo], in which he will
find examples of all that can be done.
" Now it remains for me to say which are the good
and the bad fingers, which will similarly play the
good and the bad notes, for this is as necessary
to the organist as to the virginal player. This
knowledge is really the most important thing of all.
There are five fingers in each hand, the thumb
-being accounted the first, and the little finger
the fifth. The first plays a bad note (noto cattivo),
1 B
— ;

the second a good note (noto buono), the third
a- bad note, the fourth a good note, and the
fifth a bad note. The second, third and fourth
fingers do most of the work; what I say about
one hand applies equally to the other.
"Ex. i. BC BCBCBCBCBCBC B
[B stands for Buono, good, C for Cattivo, bad].
In the right hand the first note would be played
with the 2nd finger, which is a good finger; the
second with the 3rd finger, which is bad, like the
note, and the third with the 4th finger, which
is good again, like the note then you follow on
;
again with the 3rd and 4th until the end of the
scale, the last note coming with the 4th finger.
This is the way to play all ascending passages.
In descending, begin with the 4th, follow on
with 3rd, and 2nd, and so on, until you come
to the last note with the 2nd, which terminates
the passage naturally.
" Transilvano : Does thus the 3rd finger go with
the 4th in ascending, and with the 2nd in descending
in the right hand ?
" Diruta Yes,
: but whether ascending or
descending, the 3rd finger must play all the
bad notes, and again all the bad notes which skip
the 3rd finger thus is the hardest worked, since
nothing usual is done without it, be it ascending or
descending scales, skips, groppi,' or
'
tremoli.''
The same order of good and bad fingers applies to

the left hand the first ascending note in the same
;
example (Ex. 1) would be played with the 4th

finger, following with the 3rd and 2nd, ending
always with the 2nd."
The above explanations in ordinary notation
come to this :
Right hand.
-3 — 4-
$
m £=£
Left hand.
S3
r-2 3-
m\ WS:
" Transilvano
: But why should not the ascent
be made with the 1st and 2nd fingers, and the
descent with the 3rd and 4th (left-hand), since
many worthy players do it so ?
"Diruta: Your question is of the greatest
importance, and with due reverence to the men
you speak of I shall tell you which manner is
the better. Know then that when you ascend with
the thumb, it may turn well on the white keys,
when you play in C major but when you play
;
in F, you have to pass the black keys which are

shorter than the white, and if the thumb happen
to fall on a black key it will prove very awkward,
whilst the three fingers can do it with much more
ease and agility. And you must never descend
with the 4th finger, because the 4th finger of the
left hand has less strength than that of the right
hand, as you know.
" If it is one's caprice to ascend with the
2nd finger and thumb and descend with the 3rd
and 4th, it can be done, but at a great
—

disadvantage. Then observe the rule of the good
notes for the good fingers if you want to succeed
well."
So much for the rules we have already seen ;
Amerbach use the thumb in that way, and we

shall see all the others, later, do most of these
forbidden things Below will be found the !
most important examples of Diruta. In the

original, no figures are marked for fingering the ;
author uses the letters B and C for Buono and

Cattivo, and describes some cases. The added
figures make the examples clearer :
Ex. 3.
Right hand.
-2-3-2-
5§3 ^^^2
m* 4
Left hand.
3 2
+Z3£
tlt
-3-2-
3 2
3
* TT
Ex. 4.
Right hand.
-2 -3—4, '
2 3 ~ 2
Left hand.
m
Ex. 5.
Right hand. o 4 *
3— 4-=d*n-—
s-4 I
E^*
*s ^ZZ
3 2 3
2 3 * S
2 3
Left hand.
Ex. 6.
Right hand.
i 43 3 2
Left hand.
4 3
-3—2 — 3
^
4 3
4—2-3
^5
-*-* •*-^2-3-
2 3
2343 243
Ex. 7.
Right hand. 4 3 *J^
z&c.r
SSEffi 2 3
4 3 2 4 3 Ta 2
Left hand.
Right hand.
4 3 2 4
-J- 1 9
3 2 ,JL 2 1 4
„ ,.
Left hand.
, , 345
Ex. 8.
Right hand. 4 341 4 3 4 1
tT -J-W *
i 3 2
3 2
3 2
V5*3
W • 2 3 2 3 * -•
54 3 2
3
Left hand.
Right hand.
4-jo ° 4 'A
-?l.£4-3_i-3-2^4
2 3 4 1
2 3^-3
Left hand.
Ex. 9.
Right hand. 2_3_2_3
2^1 _ 4 — 3. 2 3 4 3
Ex. 10.
Right hand. 4 3
Ex. 11. *
4 2 12 1
£ _L-i-A 2 '. 2
(
3
Left hand.
P—

Ex. 12.
W
Z
w =FF=fe
J.
?
i * T8—
:
W
^ He
At sight there does not seem to be much

first
differencebetween the Italian fingering and that of
the English virginalists, which we are now going
to study. In the right hand we have the same
crossing of the 3rd finger over the 4th in ascending,
and of the 3rd over the 2nd in descending. But in
reality there is a radical opposition between the
two systems. It is possible, in theory at least, to
cross the fingers smoothly and evenly, just as in
theory the fingers of the modern pianist are
supposed to be all equally strong and independent.
But in practice there is a strong tendency for the
effect to become thus :
and to induce wrong accents by the instinctive

shortening of the 4th finger note, ascending, and

the 2nd finger note, descending. No doubt it suited
the music, or the music suited it. But play the
same passage with the English fingering, and you
get :—
It rings and true, both for rhythm and

right
phrasing, and naturally falls in with the
" Harmonic System of Fingering," which we shall
study presently.
An early source of information concerning the
old English fingering is the " Fitzwilliam Virginal
Book," where some of the pieces contain indicative
figures which appear to be contemporary with
the manuscript. They will seem strange enough
to a modern player, but when the principles
of 17th century English fingering are unfolded,
much of that strangeness will disappear. Two
points, however, are noticeable at first sight
the use of the thumb in the right hand, which
is much more frequent with the English than
with the old Germans and Italians, and the
changes of fingers on the same note, which
seem to have been used only by the English at
that period.
Here are the examples :
The the opening of a " Fantasia " by Jhon

first is
Munday, the second piece in the book. The
sign j£ stands here for a mordent. The complete
— —

fingering given in the explanation,
is with the
phrasing suggested by it :
Original.
=S*5^=
fe
m *-- =P-
*m .j—
***jT3 ^m j S .C
Explanation. 3
3 2345432323232 1345 3^—
4_g Zr
4 4 5
.
'&5£^S0^&m tes=n ^b.

r»-P-»-m Z-JSP-P-P-
The second example is from the " Galiarda " by-

John Bull, No. 17 in the book, the gth, ioth, and
nth bars, which are the beginning of a variation

on the first strain :
Original. 6 2 5 2 3 3 2
: 3
^F^SEl* ^-Ji-A-
W
Itr
— —

In the left hand the sign fl* indicates mordents,
except the second sign in the first bar on Gjt,
where a short shake is better. In this kind of
music the same sign stands for either shake or
mordent, the one or the other to be preferred,
according to the context, as has been explained
before.
The " Pavana " by John Bull, No. 34 in the book,
contains many fingered passages, and among them
the following :
Ex. 1.
m Original, bar 3.
i
^=^
i—Ê-r
Z£2I
&c -
HI Ê
W
Explanation.
1 2
3k m f=F
-G-—
&c.
S=EE
5 4 5
The two successive second fingers on and C D

are not what they appear to be, for the shake
on C begins on D, which must be played with the
first finger to get the second on C; therefore a
change of fingers on D, 2 to i, is implied :
Ex. 2. Original, bars 9 and 10.
« -J--
r ?=r*:p=S=
± fe
&c.
5£*3£3Si£ln !
r^
=^F -a
H^- s r ^=a=^z ?S= :pc
Explanation.
I
I 3BE
rr^ 2
^^t
r-a 7?-^ 2^-a
l=en 5=
lr^^-aTr-ar' &c.
He £ =^—
*
S^ -^=^=^-^ ?2=
*t-
a
H^— :
Here the fingering helps to elucidate the ornamen-

tation, for the short, sharp mordent indicated by
the sign *f* can hardly be played otherwise than
with the first and second fingers in the left hand
and the same applies to the shakes :
Ex. 3. Original (bars 14, 15, 16).
-^^^^r^^=^
gggiBg
2
3-
$ j^Piapa
s z^^gTj-J-Jm d-
JL
— f —

Explanation. 5 ., 2 3_2_ >
a3 s
J ^_ -^ — I ,
He
3 S3 2
-.•-*-»-
i^pfi^p
-J-
These bars, 14, 15, and 16, can be readily under-

stood with the help of the explanation. The clear
directions for changing fingers on the same key,
marked xx, are worthy of notice as being the
earliest on record. The sequential passages which
follow take the same fingering.
In the two following bars (Ex. 4), which are the
last of the variation on the first strain (the first
form of which is given above), the changes of
finger on the same key are so clear that no explana-
tions could make them clearer :
Ex. 4. Last bars of variation on ist strain.
2 4
ill
—
=P 1 p arr-r~—:*-*;
£S» 3t3t
=H=P
w^
JL
mM mi
Ex. 5, below,
is sufficiently elucidated by the
which have been added to it in brackets.
fingerings
The phrasing is suggested by the fingering :
Ex. 5. First bars of variation on 2nd strain.

2|3 * 3 4 3)
Interesting information concerning Old English

Fingering found in a manuscript collection of
is
virginal music of the period circa 1600 which is
preserved at the British Museum, Add. MS. 31403.
On page 5 of this volume, in a blank space, the
following bars of music have been written. The
handwriting is of a later date than that of the
pieces, but still has the character of 17th-century
work, although no precise date can be ascribed to
it, and nothing positive is known of the writer
:
Edw. Be.
4L 3feS
~F
Graces
1
in play.
W 1 rJ
P=
~
I-
*
Edward Bevin.
$mmm F
The graces, before,
1
is
«. U .,
here exprest in notes.
A
4
>-N
54545432
HAAdAll
*2
m
1
zeA:
pBSp 4 3 4 3 4 3 2 3
-8
rt
The arrangement of the bars in the explanation
conforms to the original, and the queer English of
the phrase is quoted verbatim.
It should be noted that only the first of these
" Graces in play," the slide, occurs in the pieces
of that collection but the " dotted slides " are
;
early in character, as well as the " double relish,"

which follows them. As to the fingering, it again
suggests phrasing in an unmistakable manner. The
free use of the little finger for shakes is startling to
a pianist. It was commonly and most usefully
practised until the increased heaviness of touch in
pianofortes rendered it almost impossible.
^ A rich store of information concerning the old
English fingering is in the possession of the writer.
With a copy of Playford's " Select Musicall Ayres
and Dialogues," the first edition, 1652, some
thirty leaves of ruled paper were bound, and the
first owner of the book began to transcribe on
these some songs not included in the collection
He copied two "O my Clarissa," by William
:
Lawes, and " Come, Chloris, hie we to the bow'r,"

by Henry Lawes. The first was printed in the
second edition of "Select Musicall Ayres and
Dialogues," 1659, and the second in " Ayres and
Dialogues," by Henry Lawes, 1653. Some slight
differences between the printed and the MS. versions
seem to indicate that the latter were copied from
an earlier source. After the publication of these
books, no more songs were copied, but the blank
leaves were utilised for the musical education of a
child. The " gamut " and some reading exercises
with the sol-fa syllables attached were written in,
and also a selection of virginal pieces, several of
which are carefully fingered. No composers' names
or dates are found in the MS., but one of the pieces
is a Prelude by Orlando Gibbons, No. 21 in
" Parthenia " (published 161
1), also found in other
MS. collections of the period. Another prelude,
simple and short, and fully fingered, is evidently
contemporary with the first. The dates of the
other pieces vary between 1630 and 1675,
approximately. The little prelude will be found
below :
—\
A
/•
I
~7j- u
—
3 go 17th AND i8th CENTURY MUSIC
&
m
-ft—m-
=P=t
i=t P=^=g
m=J=
1 JVJ-
-r 3^3F
i
P =fr=
iEt
>..
^•-t
=t=t ^Z3t
i ^ ^*-
I i
l i
ss ss
w
The #s indicates short shakes everywhere
sign
in the right-hand part the same in the left hand,
;
except the second, on C in the 6th bar, and the

last also on C in the penultimate bar these are ;
mordents.
The fingering in bar 3, right hand, may be
explained thus :
fpf * =p=t
£=EES 1
Similar cases would be treated in the same way.

Excerpts from the other pieces will suffice for
the present purpose, but the Gibbons Prelude,
being most interesting, will be reproduced in

extenso in the Appendix.
The following examples from the Gibbons
Prelude and the left-hand part of a Sarabande
confirm what we have seen already :
" A Prelude."
Ex. 1.
•- "5#
m ,
ga yjifig pfifcE
—* 1
3(2 3)
Ssf B
3=
=tF
(2)!
I
I
1§E m ssgffi
(2)2
^ 3 (3)
ret
5 _1 __
&c.
igg^5£^s^
,
(3 2 1 2 1 2)
*.. e-s-rn ^m^&& -

*H*-
i
*=T=&c
Ex. 3,
&c.
4)
Ex.4. 4 3 1 4
Ex.5
5
I
2
1
X
1
—2 —
^ ,
a 11
l! X
l
2 3 ,.
3
',^4
»^__33 4 3 4
2
I
3
I
4
I
1
I 2 3
1 c
—

The figures in brackets are explicative. In Ex. 2,
left hand, the fourth finger is used on on account G
of the necessary sequence 3 2 1 2 1 2. In Ex. 3,
:
right hand, the fingering 32321

might seem
more natural than 32323;
but it was a
recognised principle that the thumb in both
hands should not be held over the keys at the
same time because it stiffened the muscles.
As the chords and octaves in the left hand
necessitate the use of the thumb, it is therefore
avoided as much as possible in the right hand,
which may be turned a little inwards, as a
consequence.
In Purcell's " Lessons, &c." (1696), the following
rules for fingering are given :
Notes Ascending. 3
3 4 3 4. 3 4 *-m-
'
Right hand the Fingers
'
a=t
to ascend are the 3d and
4th, to descend y e 3d and
2d.
i*Pfgl
Notes Ascending. , 4
' hand the Fingers
Left 123434 34 3434
to ascend are the 3d and
4th, to descend y e 3d and
2d.
y»=j^ggjg£
5 Notes Descending.
4 3
-*+*±=%
5
4 3
^
23S5
Notes Descending.
.23232 3232321
of
Observe in ye fingering
• •
your right hand your

Thumb is ye First so on to
ye fifth.
" In ye fingering of your

WQJZr
mm: left
is
fifth."
hand your little finger
ye first soe on to the
A valuable source of information concerning

fingering is the rare " Pieces de Clavecin courtes et
faciles,"&c, by Jean Francis Dandrieu. The
book bears no date of publication, but it is earlier
than two other books of harpsichord pieces of the
same size and engraving which, like the first, are
in the possession of the writer. All three appear
to be earlier than the other less rare books of
piecesby this composer. The date of the first
book can be assigned to the period 1705-10. All
the pieces in it are fingered. No fingering is given
when the fingers run naturally in their regular
order. One of the suites will be found in the
Appendix. A
few excerpts are given here to show
the principle of the fingering.
In the Prelude the semibreves do not indicate a
slow movement, but free Rhythm and Tempo.
The slurs mean the prolongation of the notes from
which they start until their end. The dotted lines
between the Treble and Bass show the notes
to be played together. A finger mark on an
ornamented note applies to the principal note; if
the ornament begins with the note above, the next
finger must be used. This often brings about a
change of fingers on the same note. The
ornaments are **, Shake o~, Prepared Shake
: ;
/-**, Slurred Shake; «o, Shake and Turn

*, Mordent; '", Appoggiatura, or Slur
Jr I,
•J >i Arpeggio:—
r
1 «r
Prelude, Suite I.
f —— — r

*t» <*•
\mr 0^5
&c,
3&k zea:
-!©-
zq: -2(9-
-49- 321
Sarabande, Id.
/*|V -^ /*V L*%v
HP H»3i
i^±=*=^=
&c.
-
: 4^-3
3B^!Ea
rt , > I 1 CT 1
r
1 1
la-Mi
Rondeau, Suite IV.
i
Is
» J=j r-M—
3* J. * ^-«-
» 2
qz=3=trt=it
-*-2J-^
-*-2 *-*-
i* 3
r
^fi?=i=
IS.
d •
sF" 1
Uv
fltsp:
MM L
Allemande, Suite III.
l**v Imv
2
5jE=jc:
p <FSF>p=r
£E* Iee
Kg IE
S ^c
Gavotte, Suite IV.

A»0 A»0
^ BEÊ ^
gfeJEEEÊggg
A number of passages from Fran9ois Couperin's

"L'Art de toucher le Clavecin," 1717, which
concern the present subject have already been
given at pages 18 to 21. We
shall now supplement
them with further information and examples :
Page 3 "To
: be seated at the proper height,
the underneath part of the elbow, wrist, and
fingers should be level a ;chair should be selected
in accordance with this rule. Something more
or less high should be placed under the feet
of children, so that their feet, not being in the air,
may support the body in right balance.

" The distance at which a grown-up person
should be from the keyboard is about nine inches
from the waist, and less in proportion for children.
— —
"The middle of the body and that of the
keyboard must correspond.
" The body should be turned slightly to the
right, the knees not pressed together, the feet on
a line, and the right foot well turned outwards.
" With regard to grimaces, they can easily be
corrected by placing a looking glass on the desk
of the spinet or harpsichord."
Page 7 "It is better and
: more proper not to
beat time with your head, body or feet. Your
attitude at the harpsichord should be easy,
without looking too fixedly at anything, nor
seeming vacant; in short, look at the company,
ifthere is any, as you would if you were not
otherwise occupied. This advice is for those who
play without book."
Page ig " Manner of: connecting several
mordents following one another by degrees,
by changing fingers on the same note":
I st progress ascending. ist progress descending.
^JW '^|T ^J» ™\* "1*
i X i Z3=ir =t=
nn 32
2d progress ascending.
32 :t 4 3 4 3 4
3 4
2d progress descending.
3
A/pf
4 3
Afir
^m
4 3
y^f%
4 3
Af*
4 3
/%r»
-e>-
m 4 5
^*
zz±z
4 5 4 5
-&-
4
Page 20 " Same manner: for the slurred

mordents in the left hand :
ist progress descending. ist progress ascending.
w&S TT
(•IV
2~T
Îv
2~T
^2=
TT 2
23Z =P=
T~2 T~2
w
1~2~
-far
T~2 1~2
2d progress descending. 2d progress ascending.
3~2 3~~2 3~2 3~2 3 2~~3 2~3 2~3 2*~3 2
3= ?2= Ê *==^= zz:
=t±= ^ ;£§=
t-
" I have found that there are two ways to finger

the appoggiatura for me one is preferable to
;
the other :
Modern ways. Ancient ways.
i=3=E£
12 3
First progress.
2 3 i 12 3
Third progress.
3 4
2 3 4 3 4 2 3 4 4 5
Second progress. Fourth progress.
" I only allow the ancient manner on the

occasions where the hand has two parts to play,
for then it is too uncomfortable, especially if the
parts are far from one another."
"Reasons for preferring the new manner of the
Appoggiature. The finger marked 3 in the third
progress and the finger marked 4 in the fourth,
being obliged to quit the last quaver to restrike
the appoggiatura, allow less connection than at
the first progress, where the finger marked 3 is
more promptly replaced by the second finger, and
at the second progress, where the finger 4 is also
sooner replaced by the finger marked 3.
" I have proved that without seeing the hands
of the person who plays, Ican distinguish whether
the two notes in question have been struck by the
398 17TH AND i8th CENTURY MUSIC (
same by two different fingers. My pupils

finger or
feel it like myself, from which I conclude that
there is some truth in it."
Couperin seems to imply that he invented, or at
least was the first to introduce, this system of
fingering. But Dandrieu, at least, used it just like
Couperin. An example can be seen at p. 395, in
the Allemande from Suite IV.
Page 22 " It would be very useful if pupils
:
could be exercised to shake with every finger but, ;
as this depends partly on natural talent, and some

have more or less freedom and strength with certain
fingers, the choice must be left with the teacher."
Page 23 " The most frequent shakes are those
:
of the 3rd with the 2nd finger and of the 4th with
the 3rd, in the right hand in the left, those of the
;
1 st with the 2nd and of the 2nd with the 3rd."

Page 29 Ex. 1 shows Couperin's fingering for
:
scales, the same as that .used in England over a

century before.
Ex. 2, " An easier fingering for Keys with sharps
and flats."
Ex. 3,
" Ancient ways of playing thirds in
succession."
Ex. 4, " New fingering for binding these thirds."
Ex. 5, " Another way of connecting thirds."
Ex. 1.
MSthode, p. 29. Fr. Couperin.
12 3
4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 3
Page 30 "A propos of these slurred thirds, I

:
must state briefly that, one day, teaching them to

a young pupil, I tried to make her beat two
shakes together with the same hand. Her happy
dispositions, her excellent hands, and the great
habit she had already acquired of it brought her
to the point of beating them very evenly. I have
lost sight of this young lady since.

" Indeed, if this practice could be acquired, it
would add great lustre to the play. I have heard,
since,a man make them (otherwise much skilled) ;
he, perhaps had begun too late, but his example

did not encourage me to torture myself in order to
succeed in doing them as I think they should be
done. I confine myself to encouraging young
people to begin at the proper time. Should this
practice become established, it would bring no
inconvenience with pieces already written it would ;
only be a question of adding a shake, in thirds, to

the one already written."
—
4 oo 17TH AND i8th CENTURY MUSIC
Ex. 6 " Progress of shakes
: linked by the
method of changing fingers on the same note " :—
Ex. 6.
fe=^==ff
Page 40 " Passages from my
: First Book
of Harpsichord Pieces, difficult to finger."
(Exx. 7 to 17.)
Exx. 7 and 8. Note how the phrasing, indicated
by the fingering, is based upon the harmony.
More will be said on this point, especially in
connection with J. S. Bach's fingering. Here is
the harmony of Ex. 7 Ex. 8 can be analysed ;
in the same way :
— 4#-5»-
-*
5=1
P* l»-v— 2
&c.
w£ -1—
Ex . 7 .
" La Milordine .
'
5 4 5
-»-
=»* -?—m-
£^#! iES:
$ ifc
WE&z ±=t -e=3-
&c.
^m ms
Ex. 8.
Same Piece.
yâ«d^
1 V?
-W^
Ex.Couperin's original note "As the second

g, :
and fourth of these slurred notes are those which

bear the harmony with the bass, it is necessary that
they should be played with the same fingers as if
the melody were simple, and without passing-
notes." (See Ex. 10) :
„ " Les Sylvains. 2nd part.'
'
Harmony notes of the same.

Ex. 10.
m &c.
Mr=t =1=
— *

Ex. 11. Note the break in the fingering between
bars 2 and 3 (x), which indicates the phrasing, based
on the harmony :
Same Piece
Ex. 11. 3
-3- 3 1 i ..2
2-
SEE£^*EE£=£=£=jE£=£
1 1 1
sai
^ t
-4=5-
K.
Jt
.T
1 i 1 r
BEEg
&c.
»
-2=1-
-4=5-
r -cr
Les Idees heureuses.

Ex. 12.
mU. -2=5-
T
V
-t
"*—
I
i-
%
d
.
-5
f^-
M *-
4-
s=3a' ''' &c.
z*:z
i
^
Same Piece.
Ex. 13. |
feSfe
S^r-'^
2-5
Ex. 14. Courante, 5me Ordre.

4-5 _^ 4-5
^
__
i^Hrff
§PfF :
a-H-Fr-* =r1-
^g pJz
r
E±
T^ "T r
5 4-5
ifeS^
I f^ÊR ££ &c
-f— h 1 I
==
FI:
— —
4o4 I7TH AND i8th CENTURY MUSIC

Ex. 15. " Les Ondes. 1
Right hand.
3 5 4 3 2 3 4 -*v 2 3 4 5
1 a* m .
#
e=e =t=
&c.
Ex. 16. Same Piece.
*t 4_3 5 4 3 5 J. 4m-0-
*=£ WEEEB
^?=* S=E
*iT -~ if"r -i-
4 2
'i
3 ~ 2
1
s~—
44^
1 .- v i\ I
#—f-» • P~
£
I 2
jgiffe £ &c.
3 2 3-4
Ex. 17, Couperin's note " It will be seen in :
Ex. 16 that two consecutive notes by degrees may

be played by the same finger, when the first is
detached, or when the second is in the last part of
a beat " :
Ex. 17.
f^
Same
'
2 3
Piece.
3 4 3 2
3
r 3
4?4432
t 3 432432
B Ni=5 35
3-:
5 -ft-
&c.
In Ex. 1 8, in the place marked by a cross,

the same finger plays G# and A by sliding
from the first to the second, as we have seen

before :
Ex. 18. Same Piece.

Right Hand.
—
as "very uncomfortable," "very unpractical," "a
chaos of unpractical rules," &c, &c. Another
misprint occurs at bar 5 [N.B.] where 454
should be read 545:
" Les Bergeries."
- — 4 5
3 2 3 2 3
5
Ex, &c.
i.x. 20.
'
' Le Moucheron,
5 5
mm^mmm
Ex. 21. Passacaille.
5 4
4. . 3.
J I
212, 2
^N^
2
&c.
Ex. 22. Same Piece.
4 5 4 5 4
5 4
m^m^ms^mmk
4 5 4
'
I
! I
«±
2 3 2 3 2
2 3 2
5 4 V"8 5 3
*J 3 323 23 2 323 12 2 2 3
** C ''
3 4 4
«*£*
3 5 3 » 3 2
J J !
t=t
^-fe=fe^ &c.
i fe
212
EE=EEE£Et!:-H
Ex.24. " La Triomphante."

3-1 3
" -
w*
I
I
£=
2 3 &c.
2
3 4 .
f— *! * 5
1^2
i^s
3 3 4 3 4 1
Ex. 25
'
L'Amaz6ne
—4— -w° g —u^-N

^%=^=*=1
:
&c.
4
4o8 17TH AND i8th CENTURY MUSIC

Ex. 26.
'
L'Atalante."
1
» i 2_ 3 _ HU 2
S-i-4-
^^^^^^^Pffiî
& 1 1
'
1—fa
-i.
i
1 1 i t u
4 3 2 4
n=^
3*3
! I
!•
Ex.
Ex. 27
28.
.||
Same
Same piece.
5
piece. Left hand.

4
-j*"0-ji
5
-p I 3 2 1 -»- i
s
t#- i 2 3
&c.
3 2
,3. 2
itak ff Ff : jl~ ; f*f ,
î±jjs
,3.2
12.3213
vt ;?r i »*r-F ,. ^-s-.^-^- .
J. Ph. Rameau, in the Introduction to his

"Pieces de Clavecin," 1731, gives some examples
of fingering and a charming little " Menuet en
Rondeau," fully fingered, which are reproduced
below.
Note the curious misprint in Ex. 3, where
1 stands for 5, and 5 for 1. Another misprint
occurs in the Menuet, where a 3 is marked instead

of a 2, as in similar passages :
J. Ph. Ramead, 1731.

"The thumb (i) must be used in the
middle of this Battery :
2 2 .
Ex ,.W * :p
3:
First Lesson, Right hand.
—^ m—»
5
-1 F *—
Left hand
(sic)
Ex. 3.
'
' This must be repeated often without
stopping, and with equality of
movement."
Ex. 4.
Menuet en Rondeau
^
5 4
¥2=
ffiS
s^Tf^ffffa ?ar
Fin.
1
£2=
v!/
4 io 17th AND i8th CENTURY MUSIC
Code de Musique Pratique," published

In the "
in 1760, one of his last works, Rameau describes
an ingenious system of his invention for accom-
panying on the figured bass. It is based mainly
on fingering. Certain intervals are assigned to
certain fingers in such a manner that the resolution
of discords and the sequence of chords without
consecutive fifths and octaves are obtained, to a
certain extent, mechanically. The chords are
restricted to the right hand, and the thumb is
hardly ever used. But the harmony thus produced
is coarse and thick the system was rejected by
;
the best contemporary musicians.

In Quantz's " Versuch, &c," from which so
much valuable information has been already
derived, there is a most interesting passage on
harpsichord touch and tone-production, which is
here given in extenso : —
Chap. XVII., Sect. VI., § 18: "On every
instrument the tone can be produced in different
manners, and the same thing is true of the harp-
sichord, although, judging from appearances, we
might believe that everything there depends upon

the instrument, and not upon the player.
Experience proves that if two musicians of
unequal skill perform on the same harpsichord,
the tone will be much better with the better
player. There can be no other cause for this than
the difference in the touch, and on this account
it is necessary that all the fingers should act not
only with the same strength, but with the right

strength ; that the strings be allowed sufficient
time to vibrate without impediment, and that the
keys be not depressed too slowly, but, on the
contrary, with a certain snap which sets the strings
vibrating for a long time ; thus it may become
possible to counteract, to a certain extent, the
natural defect of this instrument, which is the
impossibility of slurring notes together as on some
other instruments. It is important to see whether
one finger presses stronger than another, which can
come from the habit of curving some fingers more
than others. This not only causes unevenness in
the tone, but it prevents the passages from being
round, distinct, and agreeable ; in this manner,
should a rapid scale occur, the fingers will do no
more than tumble upon the keys. If, on the
contrary, the habit has been acquired of curving
the fingers equally, we shall not fall so easily into
this fault. Moreover, in the performance of such
rapid passages, the fingers should not be suddenly
raised their tips should rather be slid up to the
;
forward end of the key, and thus withdrawn, for this

will ensure theclearestpossible executionof the runs.
My opinion in this is based on the example of one
of the most highly skilled harpsichord players, who
followed this method, and taught it."
— —

In the index of his book, Quantz explains that
the eminent harpsichord player in question was
J. S. Bach.
Concerning Bach's fingering, the following study-
is based upon those pieces which he marked with
his own hand, rather than upon what he may have

said about it, which we have only at second hand
at best, and is often not consistent with the facts.
These pieces are a short Prelude, called
:
" Applicatio," and a " Praeambulum," both in the

" Clavier Biichlein fur W. Fr. Bach," and a
Prelude and Fugue which present a shorter and
simpler version of the Prelude and Fugue in
C major from the second volume of " Das
wohltemperirte Klavier." They are all very fully
fingered. The first two are given below the;
Prelude and Fugue will be found in the

Appendix.
A curious resemblance exists between the
" Applicatio," the old English Prelude on p.
389,
and the Dandrieu Prelude on p. 393, especially
between the last two, where the first nine notes
and their harmonies are identical.
In the "Applicatio," Ex. 1, the "Trillo und
Mordent " on F, bar 2, and B, bar 6, should be
played thus :
5454544
-t-o-ft-0-fl-m.
3
Here again we have a daring use of the little

finger), all the more remarkable if we remember
that this piece was intended for a beginner :
Ex. 1. Applicatio. Bach.
J. S.
<&U-fi-
1f
5 5
i 3
Si
&E -S- fci =S=£3
i *?
|2 tr-p
2 -«(v 1
-»— 1 IGt
^=t
21212 I
2 1
'
5 4
3 2 3 2 , CSX u. J. -V
^S"- 4.J-
^j^
3*w
T1 s
coj
i~T
0*v
*
4
^f
ZEfc
5
4 3 2 1 2
"Y
=pq=5=
=Gt
3 4 5 3 2 12
3 5
T
r r
414 i7T « AND i8th CENTURY MUSIC

An analysis of the fingering of the " Praeam-
bulum," Ex. 2, shows that it is based upon its
harmonic foundation, or, in other words, that,
as far as possible, the same fingers are used on
consecutive notes as if they were to be played
together as chords :—
Ex. 2. Prasambulum. J. S. Bach.
l 2 4
4 2 1
m
iSe i—
4=3=
Se
gfcfc?
5
-t-
3
"
2
" 5
3 2 1
142152 154351 242152

s . 1
*
* 3 I 2
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^
(-wv
^ „ 1 „ 2 3 2
X "*J
1 2
3 4 _«L*L
m&
4
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rt -m-
*=3=^ -1—1
XX 4=t
m^-*
Pî nil
m& H* c5
Sf
2 -I— 1 — 1-
435
P o—f—i
4 2
3
fl«-
J*
rr=rrPrT
3 2 1 .,_ s _ 4 8 1 JL_^
*h 1
i r -rrw=^
3 12 15 1
2 3 5 2 14
PQ-^^
it
d m ^=^ - p p-
S
ft*
5 3 2 1 >> 3
1 , 5
*£=t
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-

!>*»*" 12 4 2 1
12 3
BE S 3=R=t
4 2 1
^=± &
« ^= Ê5=E
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T ****
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— h-
=t=t t=t
i B=Ie^=!=£
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4
2 - 2_
_ -»-
S
i
4
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5
3
.
2 4 2 15 1
H^l-
PlPPP 2
m 5^
(
m^
I
U*v
-2—4—2—1—5-
£ ^"3^ cF
-v»|v-»-3-
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z33Es*
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4-2- 1,
£fc -5 y 5-
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±3
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Ex.3.
" Praambulum " (Analysed.) J. S. Bach.
51,—v 4
1UU=*L
I
pi 'PSF pEpEEtefi^
:sd-
-£2--
S5
EC
OE Si
dj=î=
3
^ ==r
EE? S
f^r i^^^T^^p 4
_£=!_!_
a^^ *r
s=
1^=3* ss-
i 3=^
%^=t
3
P
2
!
X
J
2
_J_
*s"-^-
j. 2
_-L
4L- ^14^ *
f»fe? W=fr H| 5g -W-
11 TV
&c.
3 1
:i3t
mÊgfr
^%=^ m :ic:
vt
Ex. 3 shows a reduction of this Prseambulum
into plain chords, to which the original fingering
has been transferred, and which will demonstrate
this important principle at a glance. It has
already been alluded to in connection with
Couperin (page 400).
The melodic phrases in the music of that period
being almost entirely evolved from the harmony
(the reverse is quite exceptional), it happens
frequently that the same fingering is suggested
both by the harmony and the phrase nevertheless,
;
the practical value of this harmonic principle is

very great. It applies to a large portion of the
music not only of Bach but of his contemporaries
and 17th-century predecessors. It is the fingering
that would naturally suggest itself to people
accustomed, as they were, to play on a Figured
Bass.
Several interesting examples will be found in the
Prelude in the Appendix. Specially in bar 6,
2nd beat to first beat of bar 7, right hand, bar 7,
3rd and 4th beats, and 1st of bar 8, right hand,
and both hands in bars 12 and 13.
C. Ph. E. Bach has written so extensively about
fingering that the reproduction of his precepts and
examples would fill a book, and exceed the limits
of the present work. Besides, being the pioneer
of a new school, his system does not apply
unreservedly to the earlier music, about which
our store of information is already fairly complete.
We shall therefore content ourselves with repro-
ducing, in the Appendix, the first movement of his
beautiful and characteristic Sonata in F minor,
fully fingered, which will give some idea of
his system.
4ig
CHAPTER VII.
THE MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS

OF THE PERIOD.
Some knowledge of the principal musical
instruments of the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries
would be a help to the understanding of the music
of that period. A thorough study of each type of
instrument would fill volumes, and could not be
attempted here ;but the principal facts about
technical capabilities, individual colours of tone
and their combinations, and, above all, an account
of the practical differences between the old
instruments and their modern representatives,
can be given in a concise form and may prove
very useful, considering the scanty amount of
reliable information available on these subjects.
SECTION I.
The Virginals.
The term " a pair of virginalls "

was often used,
meaning one instrument. Under that name are
comprised all the keyed instruments with strings,
;

the tone of which is produced by the action of a
plectrum. There are many types of virginals,
varying in form, and complexity
size, but all ;
have in the same mechanical means of

common
tone-production, which is the jack.
The earliest known jacks, which date from the
15th century, do not differ from those of the 18th,
or even the 20th century, except in unimportant
details. When well made and well regulated they
answer to the touch with the utmost precision and
rapidity, and instantly stop the vibrations of the
string when the key is released by the finger.
The dynamic varieties resulting from a heavier
or lighter touch are not great, if compared with
the hammer action of a pianoforte but they are ;
perceptible, and sufficient to give rhythmic accents.

A variety of materials have been used for the
plectra, the principal being quills and leather.
The latter was much used in the 16th century
but for a century or so from about 1650 it was
almost entirely superseded by quills. Leather
was reintroduced in the 18th century, at times
replacing the quills altogether. There is a
marked difference between the tone-colour pro-
duced by these two materials, especially when
buff leather is used. The quills give a sharp
and brilliant tone, but one not so pure and sweet
as that of leather. For wearing qualities, leather
is much superior to quills.
Raven quills, well cut and taken from the
backbone of the feather, last for a reasonable
time ;but they break eventually, and must
be replaced, whilst leather of the proper quality,
thickness, and cut seems to be practically
everlasting.
INSTRUMENTS OF THE PERIOD 421
The ordinary virginals, the most common, had

one string and one jack for each note, and con-
sequently no variety in tone-colour. Their form
was rectangular in England and Northern Europe.
In Italy, in the 16th century, they often affected
the beautiful and convenient form of an elongated
pentagon, which was rendered possible by the
general habit, in Italy, of keeping instruments in
cases, whilst in other countries they were self-
contained, a plain lid, with a hinged front, fixed to
the rim of the instrument, closing it. This simple
arrangement was not adaptable to the Italian shape.
Some very small virginals were made, hardly any
longer than the four-octave keyboard with which
they were provided. They were called in Italy
" Ottavina " or " Spinetta," in England Octave
Virginals, on account of their pitch being an octave
higher than that of the regular instruments, and
thus corresponding with the 4-ft. stops of the
organ. Others were somewhat larger, being tuned
a fourth or fifth lower. The common full-size
instruments were of 8-ft. tone, their compass
extending from the C with two additional lines
below the bass stave, to the C with two additional
lines above the treble stave, and sometimes to the
D, E, and F above. In the bass also three or four
more notes were often added, carrying the
scale to the G or F of the 16-ft. octave. This
made a total of five octaves, F to F, which was
sufficient for all music until the beginning of the
19th century.
In Italy, before the 18th century, all the keyboard
instruments had an incomplete scale in the bass the
;
keyboard started apparently on E, but this note was

tuned to C, the next F§ to D, and the G| to E ;
this arrangement was called " Short Octave." As
the Italian music of that period is written mostly in
the keys of F and C major, D and G minor, and
anyway the music was adapted to that shortened
scale, the absence of the low CJjl, D$, and Ffl was
not much felt. But if English music be played
on such instruments many passages are crippled,
for the English virginalists used a wider range
of tonalities than the Italians, even going through
the complete cycle of 12 keys, as witness the
"Ut, re, mi, fa, sol, la" of John Bull in
the " Fitzwilliam Virginal Book."
The French name for these instruments was
" Epinette " or " Espinette " ; the German,
" Instrument " or " Symphonia," the latter two
being very misleading. An upright variety was
the " Clavicytherium," and another about which
very little definite information is available was
called "Arpicordo."
In all these simple instruments, excepting the
last two kinds, the strings were stretched parallel
with the keyboard. Virginals made on this
principle could be small and their price low.
But when there was no need to economise either
space or money, the instruments were allowed to
take their natural form, which is that of a harp,
placed horizontally and with its strings perpen-
dicular to the keyboard.
The advantages of this construction were that
the strings could be given their full length
and consequent richness of tone, and that
more space being available between the strings
a most important series of developments and
improvements became possible. Thus a second
set of strings was added side by side with
the first, and a second row of jacks to play
upon them. The guides which keep the jacks in
position being movable, a very small displacement
from left to right, commanded by a stop, would
cause the plectrum either to catch the string
or pass it silently at will. Two strings in
unison were thus available for each note,
either severally or together, making three varieties
of strength and tone-colour usable. A third
set of shorter strings, tuned in the higher octave,
being placed under the two unisons, further
enriched the instrument with a four-foot
register and made seven combinations of tone
available.
^ By the addition of a second row of keys, two
different sets of strings of contrasted tone could be
made to dialogue together, by placing each hand
on a different keyboard, and an instantaneous
change from soft to loud became possible, one of
the keyboards sounding one string only, and the
other the three strings.
all
That such instruments were in use in the
early part of the 16th century is proved by the
following entry in the " Privy Purse Expenses of
King Henry VIII." :—
" 1530.
(April). Item, the vi daye paied
to William Lewes for ii payer of virginalls
in one coffer with iiii stoppes brought to
Greenwiche iii li. And for ii payer of virginalls
in one coffer brought to the More other iii li.
And for a little payer of virginals to the
More, xxs vii li."
They were called Claricymbel, Clavicymbel,
Clavicembalo, Gravicembalo, Cembalo, Clavecin,
Clavessin, Harpsicon, Harpsichord, Flugel.
1 E
—

The harp or theorbo stop found in many
harpsichords had no special strings or jacks. Its
peculiar pizzicato effect was produced by the
contact of a row of little pieces of soft leather or
cloth with the strings near to their nut, which
modified their tone so as to make it resemble that
of a harp or lute.
Some harpsichords possessed an additional
fourth row of strings, placed above the unisons
and double their length or thereabouts, giving
16-ft tone. These instruments were necessarily
very large, and never became common but they;
had a wonderful depth and grandeur of tone.

J. S. Bach had one, and this explains why some
passages in his music demand 16-ft. tone to
produce their full effect.
In the early harpsichords all changes of tone
were controlled by hand stops, and therefore could
only be used when a rest allowed a hand to be
withdrawn from the keys. An English maker,
about 1660, found a way to effect these changes
by the action of the feet. A description of this
invention is given by Th. Mace in " Musick's
Monument." The author, after describing the
effect of voices and viols with organ or theorbo
accompaniment in certain pieces of music,
"wonderfully Rare, Sublime, and Divine beyond
all Expression," says :
Page 235 :
" But when we would be most Ayrey,
Jocond, Lively, and Spruce; Then we had Choice
and Singular Consorts, either for 2, 3, or 4 parts,
but not to the Organ, as many now a days
Improperly and Unadvisedly perform such
Consorts with, but to the Harpsicon ; yet, more
properly and much better to the Pedal, an
Instrument of a late invention, contriv'd as I have
been inform'd by one Mr. John Hayward of
London, a most Excellent kind of Instrument for
a Consort, and far beyond all Harpsicons or
Organs that I have yet heard of, (I mean for
Consort, or single Use;) but the organ far beyond
it, for Those other Performances before mentioned.
" Concerning This Instrument, (call'd the Pedal
because it is contriv'd to give Varieties with the
Foot) I bestow a few lines in making mention
shall
of, in regard it is not very commonly used, or
known because few make of them well, and fewer
;
will go to the price of them Twenty Pounds :
being the ordinary price of one but the Great ;
Patron of Musick in his time, Sir Robert Bolles,

who in this I had the happiness to
University
Initiate in This High Art had two of them, the one
I remember at 30/. and the other at 50/. Very
admirable Instruments.
" This Instrument is in Shape and Bulk just like a
Harpsicon only it differs in the order of it, thus, viz.
;
" There is made right underneath the keys, near

the ground, a kind of Cubbord, or Box, which
opens with a little pair of doors, in which box the
Performer sets both his feet, resting them upon
his Heels, his Toes a little turning up, touching
nothing, till such a time he has a pleasure to
employ them which is after this manner, viz.
;
There being right underneath his Toes 4 little

Pummels of Wood, under each foot 2, any one of
those 4 he may Tread upon at his pleasure which :
by the weight of his foot drives a Spring, and so

causeth the whole instrument to Sound, either Soft
or Loud, according as he shall chuse to Tread any
of them down for without the foot nothing speaks.
;
" The out-side of the Right Foot drives one, and
the in-side of the same foot drives another so ;
that by treading his foot a little awry, either

outward or inward, he causeth a Various Stop to
be heard, at his pleasure and if he clap down his
;
foot flat, then he takes them both, at the same

time, which is a 3d. variety, and Louder.
" Then has he ready, under his Left Foot, 2 other
Various Stops, and by the like Order and Motion
of the Foot, he can immediately give you 3 other
Varieties, either Softer or Louder, as with the right
foot before mentioned he did.
" So that you may perceive he has several
Various Stops at pleasure and all Quick and
;
Nimble, by the ready turn of the foot.

" And by this Pritty Device, is this instrument
made wonderfully rare, and excellent So that :
doubtless it Excels all Harpsicons and Organs in

the world, for admirable sweetness and Humour,
either for a private, or a consort use.
" I caus'd one of them to be made in my
House, that has g several other varieties, (24 in
all), by reason of a stop to be slip'd in with
the hand, which my workman calls a Theorboe-
Stop ; and indeed it is not much unlike it but ;
what it wants of a Lute, it has in its own Singular

Prittiness.
" We had in those days choice consorts, fitted
on purpose to suit with the nature of this
instrument.
" The truth is, the great grace which Musick
receives by the Right ordering of this instrument,
to compositions and performances suitable there-
unto, is such, that it far exceeds any Expressions
that can be made of it."
Hayward's invention did not make much
headway at the time, but seventy or eighty years
later most harpsichords were provided with
pedals, or knee levers which produced the same
effects.
Mention should be made of the Spinet, which on
account ofits graceful wing-shape and pretty tone
became so popular in England in the 18th century,
that it superseded the oblong virginal.
entirely
It is, in a small harpsichord with single
fact,
strings disposed obliquely and forming an angle of
about 45 with the row of jacks, the latter being
parallel, or nearly so, with the keyboard.
The first spinet was perhaps made by the same
Hayward, or Haward, who invented the Pedal
at any rate, one Haward was early in the field
making some, for there is no spinet known which
can be safely ascribed to a date earlier than the
following entries in Pepys' Diary :
"April 4, 1668. To White Hall. Took

Aldgate Street in my way and there called upon
one Haward that makes Virginalls, and there did
like of a little espinette, and will have him finish it
for me for I:had a mind to a small harpsichon,
but this takes up less room."
"July 10, 1668. To Haward's to look upon an
Espinette, and I did come near to buying one, but
broke off. I have a mind to have one."
"July 13, 1668. I to buy my espinette, which I
did now agree for, and did at Haward's meet with
Mr. Thacker, and heard him play on the harpsicon,
so as I never heard man before, I think."
"July 15, 1668. At noon is brought home the
espinette I bought the other day of Haward
cost me £5."
When Pepys says " I had a mind to a small
harpsicon, but this takes up less room," he points
out one of the chief causes of the great popularity
of the spinet. It takes very little room, and its
triangular shape makes it tit in nooks and corners
where an oblong virginal could not be placed.
It was not expensive :
£5, compared with the
£20 to £50 for a Pedal But it never was but a
!
makeshift for a harpsichord, for it possessed none

of those wonderfully varied colours of tone and
combinations of registers which are the glory of
the latter.
Now comes the question How were the various
:
stops and combinations of the harpsichord employed

practically ? Scanty information is available on
that point. Composers' indications concerning
harpsichord stops are as rare as those relating to
organ stops, and probably for the same reason, that
harpsichords were as variable as organs in their
stops and combinations. Only a few general
indications can be obtained.
Francois Dandrieu explains in the Preface to his
" Livre de Pieces de Clavecin, etc.," 1724, that the
"Concert des Oiseaux " (Birds' concert) must be
played with both hands upon the first keyboard,
but after withdrawing the two unisons and leaving
the petite octave (4- ft. stop) only.
" Le Timpanon " (The dulcimer) also requires
the petite octave alone, but the right hand
should play upon the second keyboard and the
left hand upon the first. (This raises the bass
part one octave, and makes it cross through the
treble.)
" Les Fifres "
(The fifes), on the contrary, should
be played with the same arrangement of stops, but
with the right hand upon the first keyboard and
the left hand upon the second. (This raises the
melody one octave.)
In " Les Caracteres de la Guerre," the piece
called "La Charge" has several places marked
Coups de Cannon, which show only the four notes
of a common chord but in order better to express
;
the cannons' roar, instead of these four notes, you

may strike as many times with the full length of
the flat hand all the lowest notes of the harpsichord.
Francois Couperin, in his " Third Book of
Harpsichord Pieces," 1722, gives several Pieces
Croisees in which the parts for the two hands
lie in the same section of the scale. Couperin
explains that such pieces should be played on
two keyboards, with unison stops.
Many works of J. S. Bach are specially composed
for a harpsichord with two keyboards, in which
various combinations are implied by the context as,
;
for example, some of the " Goldberg Variations,"

which demand two keyboards of equal strength,
but with tones of contrasted colour, or the " Italian
Concerto," where soli passages marked piano occur
in both hands, the tutti being marked/or^. The forte
parts must be played with 8-, 4-, and occasionally
16-ft. tone, on the first keyboard, the piano parts
on the second keyboard with one 8-ft. stop.
A comparison between the harpsichord and
the pianoforte presents difficulties on account of
the great differences which exist between these
two types of instruments. It is, indeed, not easy
to understand why the former was discarded in
favour of the latter, seeing that the pianoforte
can no more replace the harpsichord than the
harpsichord can replace the pianoforte.
The most beautiful and characteristic pianoforte
effects, which cannot possibly be realised on the
harpsichord, are those of a melody and a bass,
widely separated, the intervening space being filled
with arpeggios or other more or less indistinct
figures, the whole combination of tones being
sustained by the action of the damper pedal
until the next change of harmony. It might
even be said a little beyond the next change,
for inmodern pianofortes the vibrations of the
any dampers to stop
strings are too powerful for
them dead; the sound continues for some time
after the finger has been lifted from the key. This
inadequate damping, and the presence of those
enormously thick felt coverings on the hammers,
necessitated by the prevailing fashion for vague,
luscious effects, account for the lack of clearness and
definition in pianoforte tone, which qualities are
indispensable for the performance of the old music.
The great pianists are well aware of this they make
;
unceasing efforts to obtain hard hammers from

the makers. Paderewski will not play upon a
pianoforte the hammers of which have not been
specially hardened for him. His skilled fingers can
be trusted to soften and sweeten the tone when he
wants it; but nothing can put life into that
blurred dullness consequent upon soft hammers,
which helps to cover so many of the sins of the
ordinary player.
Another serious point is the enormous emphasis
given by the blow of the hammers to the beginning
of each note, which continually attracts the
attention of the listener to every note as it comes,
making it difficult to follow the movements of
individual parts. For this reason contrapuntal
music is much more difficult to understand on the
pianoforte than on the organ or harpsichord
although the latter does not really sustain the tone
nearly so long as a good pianoforte, yet it seems
to do so in carrying on the inner parts.
In fact the pianoforte, despite its wonderful
development, has remained true to its origin.
It is a keyed dulcimer. The writer had the
good fortune recently to be allowed to
examine a very early pianoforte, dated 1610,
unquestionably genuine, which anticipates by over
one hundred years the first instruments of
Cristofori, hitherto reputed inventor of the
pianoforte. It is apparently of Dutch origin,
and was made for a French nobleman. It has
very small hammers, attached to the keys, showing
a simple form of the Viennese action. It has no
dampers, and never had any. No doubt the player
occasionally stopped the vibrations of the strings
with his hands, as dulcimer players do, when
confusion became objectionable. The instrument
altogether looks much like a large dulcimer. The
most attractive part of its decoration is a painting
which fills the inside of the lid, representing an
outdoor scene, with gaily dressed ladies and
gentlemen dancing in a park to the music of a
little band of musicians grouped round the
very pianoforte which it embellishes, and which
is there carefully and delicately painted. The
fortunate owner of this charming instrument is
M. Rene Savoye, whose collection in the
Avenue de 1' Opera, in Paris, contains many other
rare and exquisite musical treasures.
The absence of dampers in this instrument is
not very surprising. There are plenty of people
who practicallydo away with them by putting
their footon the pedal before beginning to play,
and leaving it there until they have finished; but
it is not considered good taste. And, indeed,
with the long-sustained tone of modern pianofortes,
it is well-nigh intolerable. But it does not seem
to have been objected to in the time of Mozart,
and even Beethoven, for in the little square
pianofortes of the period 1760- 1800 there is no
other means of controlling the dampers but by a
hand-stop placed in a box on the left side of the
keyboard. In the original edition of Beethoven's
so-called " Moonlight Sonata," the indication
senza sordini at the beginning of the first movement
means that the dampers are to be lifted, and thus
remain until the end of the piece.
For accompaniments or concerted music the
harpsichord cannot be replaced by the modern
pianoforte. The tone of the latter does not easily
blend with the voice, or with string or wind instru-
ments. Nothing is more difficult for a pianist than
to play concerted music with a violin or violoncello.
If he employs his usual strength the string
instrument is drowned if he spares his partner
;
and plays delicately, the softened pianoforte tone

becomes still more woolly, and the contrast proves
too great, with the sharpness of the string instru-
ment, for blending to be possible.
The harpsichord, on the contrary, is at its best
in chamber music ;it harmonizes beautifully with
most other instruments, for colour as well as power.
The blending is so perfect, in fact, that it becomes
difficult at times for unaccustomed ears to
distinguish the tones of the various instruments.
—
When allied to a string quartet as, for example,
Jesus' recitatives in Bach's " St. Matthew " Passion
— no separate part can distinctly be traced, but
the whole effect is one of indescribable richness
and beauty.
Until the harpsichord lost favour there were
two in each orchestra. At the first sat the
concert-master, who accompanied the soli at the
;
second the accompanist, who played the tutti.

The first pianofortes which replaced them did not
effect a marked change they had not yet lost their
:
string-tone. But both pianofortes and orchestra

very soon began to grow, and the more they grew
the less they agreed. And what could a harpsi-
chord do now against a hundred players or so ?
Whilst for power the modern pianoforte can nearly
match an orchestra.
SECTION II.
The Clavichord.
The clavichord is an instrument of very great

simplicity. has no jacks, no hammers, no stops,
It
no pedals in fact, no mechanical aid to variety of
:
tone and of tone so little that it compares better,

;
for colour and power, to the humming of bees

than to the most delicate among instruments.
But it possesses a soul, or rather seems to have
one, for under the fingers of some gifted player it
reflects every shade of the player's feelings as a
faithful mirror. Its tone is alive, its notes can be
swelled or made to quiver just like a voice swayed
by emotion. It can even command those slight
variations of pitch which in all sensitive instruments
are so helpful to expression.
The clavichord has strings of brass, very slender,
two for each note. If you pluck one it gives no
sound, for unlike those of other instruments, the
length proper for each note has not been measured
off yet. But if you look through the gold web of
which the close strings give an illusion, you will
see on each key-end an upright blade of brass
ready to come and touch the strings, like the
fingers of the violin-player, when that note is
required. This blade of brass is the tangent its ;
contact alone makes the tone. When the finger

releases a key the strings at Once become dead, for
beyond the striking point their unused length is inter-
laced with strips of woollen cloth. The player,
through the keys, keeps in touch with the strings,
and thus can impel them with every motion of his
mind. But he is debarred from the one thing people
prize most nowadays, and that is making a big
noise. As, however, infinite softness is possible on
the clavichord, the range of gradations is equal to the
demands of expression. The smallness of its tone
is no drawback in itself. It can be heard by large
audiences when occasion arises, for it fascinates
them into a keen receptivity. But it cannot
consort with any other instrument in its efforts to
;
equal even the meekest opponent its delicate

beauty is lost. The clavichord is, above all, an
intimate instrument.
In early clavichords the tangents played several
notes on the same strings, like the violinist's
fingers and only one of these notes could be heard
;
at the same time. This does not hamper melodies

nor chords which do not include two notes from
the same strings. But discords of a second are
destroyed, for only the higher note sounds.
Some people use this point as an argument that
J. S. Bach made little use of the clavichord. The
evidence of his music disproves this, for much of it
can only make its proper effect upon this instru-
ment. The fact is that clavichords with special
strings for each note(Bundfrei)were known in Bach's
time and who would have had one if not he ?
;
Moreover, the best gebunden clavichords (fret-

bound) are so cleverly disposed that in none but
extreme keys could the two notes of the same
string be wanted together. A search through the
Forty-eight Preludes and Fugues of " Das wohl-
temperirte Klavier " (Klavier, i.e., Clavichord) will
show that the passages that would suffer in that
way are rare.
Jakob Adlung, 1699-1762, a contemporary of
Bach, treats at length of the clavichord in
" Musica Mechanica Organoedi." A few extracts
from his book will confirm these statements :
§ 571 "A good clavichord, well played, is sweeter

:
and more heart-stirring than any other instrument."

§ 572
" It is indispensable for study.
:
Whoever
has learned it can easily play the organ and the
harpsichord .... Some people despise it
because its tone is faint, and, in truth, some are
too weak; but others sound like the music of
violins and although they be fainter than other
;
instruments, their delicatesse remains,, and none

' '
can express the graces so well. Herr Mattheson's

remark is very true when he ?,ays (Orch. i., P. III.,
cap. iii., § 4) The beloved clavichord, from all
'
others, takes the prize.' Men's natures vary;

some like douce music; others prefer the strong.
Some cannot endure the scratching of a harp,
others revel in it. Everyone to his taste."
§ 579
: "It is a great accomplishment when a
clavichord is Bundfrei. Some are made so that
3 or 4 tangents strike the same strings ;when
playing syncopations, and a major or minor second
is formed, the upper note only is heard, and the
harmony spoilt. . . Therefore I do not
.
recommend clavichords that are not Bundfrei.

These clavichords (Bundfrei) are often made
nowadays, and the trouble and cost they entail
are disregarded for it has been discovered long ago
;
that they have great advantages over the others."
SECTION III.
The Organ.
The organ remained faithful to the old ideals
longer than other instruments. The makers of
18 1 5 worked much on the same principles as those
of 1615. In most houses there was a little organ,
soft and sweet, easy to play, ready to warble like a
bird, or with two stops to make you feel the
ecstasies of God's worship. The church organs in
addition had that power based on sweetness which
constitutes majesty. The change came on, and
for the sake of louder tone, pressure of wind was
doubled and trebled. The same pressure acting
on the valves which let the wind into the pipes
made them too heavy for the fingers to move
through the keys. A machine was then invented
which did the work at second hand. Instead of
shutting your own door, if you call a servant to do
so, the door may get shut, but not so quickly. So
the music of the organ dragged on after the
player's fingers as best it could. Personal touch,
which did so much for phrasing and expression,
was destroyed.
Then fashion decreed that the organ should be
an imitation of the orchestra, and it got stops
which sound like horns, flutes, and violins; but
without the life that players instil into their
instruments. The organist,
he is clever, can give a
if
chromo-lithograph of the "Meistersingers" Prelude;

but he has not the right tone with which to play a
chorale, if his organ is up-to-date. Modern composi-
tions are intended for this machine, and all is well
with them but it is a revelation to hear Handel's
;
or Bach's music on a well-preserved old organ.
SECTION IV.
The Lute.
The lute is known to everybody by name ; not,
perhaps, because it was popular once upon a time
as the best of instruments, for that was four hundred
years ago, but because its sweet-sounding name has
been persistently used in romance and in poetry,
even to this day, to evoke vaguely the pleasant
image of some fascinating instrument.
The fact is that the lute has become one of the
rarest and most precious amongst old instruments.
This book has already given a good deal of
information about it, incidentally with other
matters. We shall not repeat it. Our endeavour
will be to complete and co-ordinate the whole as
far as possible within the limits of this study.
The lute in use towards the beginning of the
1 6th century had five sets of double strings (two
unisons for each note), and one single string, which
is the highest.
—
The tuning was as follows :
It brings hopeless confusion in the movements of
inner parts the instrument is thus reduced to a
;
formless filling up of chords, which no doubt origi-

nated the idea of harmony, as a vertical combination
of sounds in opposition to counterpoint, the art of
weaving independent parts. These large lutes were
called arcileuto in Italy, theorbo in England.
With the exception of the bass parts, figured or
not, used by the theorbo players to construct their
accompaniments, all the lute music was written in a
special notation called Tablature, which was also used
for guitars, cithrens, and other instruments of a like
nature, and in some cases for viols and even violins.
The tablature does not directly represent musical
sounds. Its signs show how notes are to be
produced on the particular instrument intended.
You cannot sing from it or play the music on any
instrument, as with the ordinary notation. Let us
imagine a series of six horizontal lines, stave-like
and corresponding to the six strings or pairs of
strings of the old lute the uppermost line
;
pertains to the treble string, the second line

to the second string, and so on to the sixth
or last, which is for the bass strings. If a letter a
is marked upon the first line, the first string is to
be played open if it is marked on the second line,
;
the second string is to be played open, and it is

the same with all the other strings. letter b A
marked upon any line means that the corresponding
string must be stopped at the first fret if it is a c,
;
at the second fret, and so on. If two or more

notes are to be played together, their several letters
are placed over one another, chord-like.*
* In these explanations the two strings tuned in unison, and which are
always played together, are counted as one.
1 F
— —
The time-values of the notes are indicated by
signs analogous to those in the ordinary notation :
or in the older music :
r r f f
i
These signs are placed above the stave, over the

letters. They are affected by dots in the usual
way. If a time-sign is found without a letter
under it, rest of corresponding value is intended.
a
When several notes of equal value follow one
another, the trouble of repeating the time-sign
is saved by placing it over the first note of the
series only, it being understood that no change
takes place unless indicated by a new sign. If a
note or chord is to be held whilst other parts are
moving, a line is drawn under the letter, which
shows by its length the duration of the hold.
These lines are only useful in special cases, for it
is a rule that all notes must be held until their
vibrations naturally die, whenever possible, or until
their prolongation becomes undesirable for melodic
or harmonic reasons.
Whatever may be the number of strings of the
lute, no more than six lines are used in the
tablature ; for a seventh string the letters are
marked below the there are more
sixth line. If
bass strings, ledger lines are used, the number of
which indicates the order of the strings above ;
three ledger lines, the figures 3, 4, 5, &c, are

employed for clearness' sake.
An example of tablature, with its translation, is
given here below. It is a fragment from a Fantasie
for the lute by John Dowland, which exists in a
MS. in the British Museum, c. 1590 :—
'
Fantasie for the Lute " (fragment). John- Dowland.
r f r
The advantage of tablature for certain instru-
ments can be seen at bars 5 and 6 of the above
example. If written in ordinary notation, the player
would probably be puzzled to find how the passage
could be done, but in the tablature all is clear.
The tablature is also advantageous for instru-
ments with variable tunings, as whatever the
tuning, the reading and finger-work remain the
same. With ordinary notation the difficulty of
finding the places of the notes on a French lute
of twenty-one strings in some unfamiliar tuning
would be appalling.
The tablature as explained above was used in
England, France, and Germany. In Italian and
Spanish tablatures the principle is the same, but
the order of the lines is reversed, the uppermost
representing the bass string and the lowest the
treble string. Furthermore, figures are used instead
of letters: o for the open string; 1, 2, 3, &c, for
the frets.
The lute has a beautiful tone — sweet, clear,
full of character. charming for solo pieces,
It is
and incomparable for accompanying the voice. It
resembles the guitar more than any other instru-
ment, but Thomas Mace is right when he calls
the guitar " a bit of the old lute," for it is inferior
to it. As, moreover, the literature of the lute is very
extensive and important, there is good reason why
the revival of the instrument should spread. Quite
apart from actual playing, earnest students should
render themselves familiar with the tablature, for it
can help them to the solution of troublesome
problems in the old music. Those barbarous
passages in Elizabethan virginal and other
music which occur in contemporary texts, and
are often rendered worse by the emendations
and suggestions of modern editors, are for the
most part caused by the lax use of the signs for
accidentals so general at the time. In tablature
there are no accidentals each sign means a
;
definite sound, and no such blemishes occur.

There are, of course, passages where the logical
progress of the parts brings together, for example,
a B natural and a B flat, or an F natural
and an F sharp, which scare an untrained ear
but these harshnesses are logical. They are
quite different from the barbarities mentioned
before, which can often be authoritatively amended
from tablature versions of the same pieces.
The Quinterna is a small lute, with four or five
pairs of strings tuned like the higher strings of the
lute, but an octave above. The Pandurina is a still
smaller lute, with only four pairs of strings, generally
tuned GDG D, played with a quill and used, like
the quinterna, for dances and popular pieces.
The Chittarone, on the contrary, is a kind of
large theorbo, 6£ ft. long and more,- with twenty-
two or twenty-six wire strings, of which six or eight
pairs are open basses. It was played with the
fingers and used for accompaniments.
Other instruments of the lute kind, but with wire
strings, are the Orpharion, an English instrument
tuned and played exactly like the lute and using
the same music, the Bandora, and the Penorcon,
which did not differ much from the orpharion.
The Cithren (cittern or citharen) is a delightful
instrument with four pairs of wire strings (some-
times more) tuned in this strange manner :
—

and played with a quill or with the fingers,
according to the desired effect. It was extremely
popular in England in the 16th and 17th centuries,
and with a modified tuning until the end of the
18th, under the name of " English guittar." There
is a fair amount of fine music written for it.- Its
tone is like that of the mandoline, but more delicate.
SECTION V.
The Viols.
Until the " single soul'd ayres " of the violins

sounded the final overthrow of English music, it
was the privilege of the viols to play this incom-
parable concerted music in contrapuntal style, of
which the English masters had the secret, and
which in the near future will undoubtedly be
understood and appreciated even as are other
1 6th century works of art at the present time.
Thomas Mace, our faithful mentor, deploring in
his old age " the Fashion has Cry'd these
Things down, and set up others in their Room,"
describes these Consorts of Viols in the following
words :
" Musick's Monument," page 234 We had for

:
"
our Grave Mustek, Fancies of and 6 Parts,
3, 4, 5,
to the Organ ; interpos'd (now and then) with some
Pavins, Allmaines, Solemn and Sweet Delightful
Ayres ; all which were, as it were, so many
Pathettical Stories, Rhetorical and Sublime
Discourses; Subtil, and Accute Argumentations;
so Suitable, and Agreeing to the Inward, Secret
and Intellectual Faculties of the Soul and
Mind ; that to set Them forth according to their
True Praise, there are no Words sufficient in
Language
" The authors of such like compositions have
been divers Famous English Men, and Italians;
some of which, for their very great Eminency, and
worth, in that Particular Faculty, I will here name,
viz., Mr. Alfonso Ferabosco, Mr. John Ward,
Mr. Lupo, Mr. White, Mr. Richard During,
Mr. William Lawes, Mr. John Jenkins, Mr.
Christopher Simpson, Mr. Coperario, and one
Monteverde, a Famous Italian author besides ;
divers and very many others, who in their Late

Time, were all Substantial, Able, and Profound
Composing Masters in this Art, and have left their
works behind them, as fit Monuments and Patterns
for Sober and Wise Posterity, worthy to be
Imitated, and Practiced. . . .
" And these things were upon so

performed,
many Equal, and
Truly-Sciz'd Viols ; and so
exactly Strung, Tun'd and Play'd upon, as no one
Part was any Impediment to the Other but still (as;
the composition required) by Intervals, each Part

amplified, and Heightened the Other ; the organ
evenly, softly and sweetly Acchording to All."
Notwithstanding appearances, the only Italian's
name included in the above list of composers is
that of Monteverde. Alfonso Ferrabosco was
born at Greenwich. Thomas Lupo was one of
the musicians of King James I., a composer of
anthems, songs, and maskes, and an Englishman.
As to Giovanni Coperario, his real name was
John Cooper.
The viols differ outwardly from the violins.
Their back their sound-holes are C-shaped,
is flat,
their ribs higher, especially in the small viols,

—

their shoulders meet the neck at a tangent,
instead of squarely as in the violins, their corners
are turned inwards instead of outwards. But none
of these features are of serious import viols are
;
often at variance with one or more of them. The

vital points, those which affect the musical results,
are:
i°. The number of strings, which in English
viols is always six.
2°. The thickness of the strings, which, being less
in proportion than it is in violins, renders them
less tense and causes the tone to be sweeter and
more easily yielded.
3°. The thinness of the wood in all parts of the
viol body, consequent upon the low tension of
the strings, and which helps the tone to be sweet
and pure.
4°. The tuning, in fourths, with a third between
the two middle strings, which brings an interval of
two octaves between the treble and bass strings,
and affects the method of fingering and playing the
instrument.
5°. The frets, of gut-string, and movable like
those of the lute, which give to the stopped notes

the same clear ring as the open strings.
6° and lastly, the manner of holding the bow
and ordering its strokes, which being the reverse of
what is done on the violin, prevents the strong
accents characteristic of the latter, facilitating an
even and sustained tone.
This latter clause requires elucidation. The
bow of the violin or violoncello being held under
the hand, the wrist and arm are higher than the
bow, and their weight is upon it. The accented
note being played with a down bow, which begins
right under the hand or very near it, feels the full
strength of the arm and wrist in addition to their
weight the up-bow note, which begins at the
;
point of the bow, receives no benefit from

this weight, and only a very small fraction of
their strength. Thus in the violin everything
concurs in giving preponderance to the down
stroke. Skilled players endeavour, and succeed
after long practice, in equalising the strokes and
gaining a full command of the tone but they are
;
working against nature, and cannot do it with the

ease and repose of the viol player, who has
everything in his favour and does these things
without effort.
We shall now let Christopher Simpson teach us
the elements of viol-bowing :
§ 3: "A Viol-Bow for

" Division Viol," Part 1,
Division, should be stiff, but not heavy. Its length
(betwixt the two places where the Hairs are
fastened at each end) about seven and twenty
inches. The nut, short. The height of it about a
finger's breadth, or little more."
" Hold the Bow betwixt the ends of your
§ 5.
Thumb and two foremost fingers, near to the Nut.
The Thumb and first finger fastned on the stalk
and the second finger's end turned in shorter;
against the Hairs thereof ; by which you may
poize and keep up the point of the Bow. . .
Holding the Bow in this posture, stretch out your

Arm, and draw it first over one String, then
another crossing them
; in right angle, at the
distance of two or three Inches from the Bridge.
Make each several string yeild a full and clear
sound and order your knees so, that they be
;
no impediment to the motion of your Bow."

§10 " When you see an even number of Quavers
:
or Semiquavers, as 2, 4, 6, 8, you must begin

with your Bow forward yea, though the Bow were
;
imployed forward in the next note before them.

But if the number be odd, as 3, 5, 7 (which :
always happens by reason of some Prick-Note or

odd Rest,) the first of that odd number must be
played with the Bow backward. This is the most
proper motion of the Bow, though not absolutely
without some exception. ." . .
§ 12."I told you before that you must stretch

out your arm streight, in which posture, (playing
long Notes) you will necessarily move your shoulder
joint; but if you stir that joint in quick notes it ;
will cause the whole body to shake which (by all

;
means) must be avoyded as also any other

;
indecent Gesture. Quick notes therefore must be

express'd by moving some joint nearer the Hand ;
which is generally agreed upon to be the Wrist.

. . . To gain this motion of the wrist, the
.
ordinary direction is, to draw the Hand (in moving

the Bow to and fro) a little after the Arm. . . .
This motion or loosness of the wrist we mention is

chiefly in Demisemiquavers, for, in Quavers, and
Semiquavers too, we must allow so much stiffness
to the wrist as may command the Bow on, and off
the String, at every Note, if occasion so require."
To resume. The arm and wrist are under the
bow, in an easy and natural position, in no way
weighing upon it. The accented stroke being
naturally forward, begins at the point of the
bow, where the pressure of the fingers is least
strong. These conditions being reversed with
the unaccented backward stroke, it follows that
everything concurs to promote evenness of tone.
This bowing is easy to learn far more so than
;
violin-bowing. As, furthermore, the presence of

the frets upon the viol insures correct intonation,
and as the individual parts of even the most
intricate consort are generally easy to play, we
can understand how performers without great
proficiency could give good performances of this
admirable music provided always that the viols
;
be strung, fretted, and tuned by a master.

A full consort of viols consists of two trebles,
two tenors, and two basses. All the instruments
are similar in form and stringing. The bass viol,
or viola da gamba, is about the size of a violoncello,
but with a longer neck, and strings measuring
about 30 inches from the nut to the bridge. Its
tuning is :
m==^=^. I
being the same intervals as in the old lute. The
lowest string is tuned down to C whenever the key
of the composition requires it.
The tenor viol is tuned a fourth higher, from
G to G, its size being proportionate, and its length
of strings, therefore, about 22J inches.
The treble viol is tuned an octave above the
bass, and is in consequence half its size.
All these viols were played alike, for position as
well as bowing; they were held downwards, and
never over arm, in the violin way, however small
they might be. Their tone is well balanced they
;
blend much better with one another than a quartet

of violins, and they express the complications of
counterpoint with wonderful clearness.
450 i7 th AND i8th CENTURY MUSIC
The resources of the bass viol as a solo
instrument had been developed to the highest
degree of perfection in England by the end of thei
1 6th century. The English players were famous
all over the world. Foreign princes were willing
to pay handsome salaries for the privilege of having
them at their courts. Foreign musicians came to
England to study not only the viols, but the lute
and other instruments. The conditions were in
fact the reverse of what they are to-day.
The viola da gamba lends itself admirably to
rich chords and music in parts, as well as to rapid
and brilliant divisions. In the high register,
beyond the frets, it can do all the tricks of
expression of the violin, and with as free a tone,
owing to its thin strings. Furthermore, a continual
variety of effects was derived from varied tunings,
of which there were many. The music for these
fancy tunings was always written in tablature, and
the instrument called "lero" or lyra-viol. Pizzicati
for both hands are frequent with it they were
;
called a " Thump," and prove most effective, being

harp-like in tone. There is a large amount
of music for two, and three lyra-viols,
one,
in tablature, by
eminent English composers,
Antonio Ferabosco and Giovanni Coperario being
the most famous among them. A French
violist, Andre Maugars, came to England about
1620 to study the style and technique of
these masters. He obtained admittance to the
private band of King James I. for some time, and
returned to France in 1624. He entered the
service of the famous Cardinal de Richelieu, and
became the founder of that great school of
French viol-players, which through Ste. Colombes,
Hottman, Marais, de Caix d'Hervelois, and the

Forquerays, achieved such admirable results in
their own way at a time when the English, driven
from the viol by fashion, were compelled for their
living to imitate the Italian violin music, in which
uncongenial task they gained but moderate
successes.
The tenor viol did not attain to independence as
a solo instrument, and the treble viol fared no
better in England than the tenor but in France,
;
under the name of " Dessus de Viole," the latter

became fashionable as an exponent of simple,
expressive music. A fair number of good com-
positions were published for it, and also for the
" Pardessus de Viole," a small kind of treble viol
tuned a fourth higher than the Dessus.
An " alto viol, or Haute contre," tuned a tone
lower than the treble, C to C, existed, but was
rarely used, as its part could be played with good
result upon either treble or tenor.
The Double-bass viol, or violone, does not seem
to have been much used in England or in France
until late ; but it was common
in Italy and
Germany. In and perfect form it had
its original
six strings tuned an octave below the bass viol,
thus reaching to 16-ft. C by the lowering of the
bass string from D to C, which was done as on
the bass viol. The tone of the violone, notwith-
standing its depth, is clear, pure, and free. The
instrument, being fretted, plays in tune. Its effect
with a quartet- and harpsichord, as it doubles
the violoncello part an octave lower, is quite
indescribable in its mellow, velvety richness.
The present double-bass is a violone which,
through the strengthening of its body and the
thickening of its strings, has become powerful,
but coarse and impure in tone. At one time it
had been reduced to three strings. It eventually-
regained another, and is now on its way to acquire
a fifth. It may in due course get back to the
original six.
Another feature which the double-bass has lost,
and that it is most desirable it should regain, is the
frets. Double-bass players, with few exceptions,
play out of tune, and thus spoil the orchestra.
It can be explained by the difficulty of tuning low
notes, and by the fact that players on the double-
bass have few opportunities of hearing themselves
play alone, and are thus deprived of a check which
ishelpful to other string-players.
Nobody would consider it advisable to fret the
violoncello, as it would thus lose those slides and
vibratos which are necessary in modern music.
But the double-bass has no need of these means
of expression. The frets, besides, would give
clearness to many rapid passages which at present
only make a rumbling noise. A conductor with
enough power and determination to force his
double-bass players to fret their instruments would
deserve the thanks of all but he would have a
;
hard fight with his men, whose principal ambition

is to emulate the violoncellists, just as the latter
imitate the violinists.
SECTION VI.
The Viola d'Amore.
The Viola d'amore stands on the borderland

between the viols and the violins. By its many
strings, six or seven in number, and its varied
tunings, mostly in thirds and fourths, it is akin to
the viols but it has no frets, and it is held and
;
bowed a violin. Its name means the love- viol,

like
a -pretty name, but probably a corruption of
"viol da more," the viol of the Moor, an opinion
which we need not discuss here, but that is rendered
probable by the fact that the sympathetic strings,
the characteristic feature of the viola d'amore,
exist in many Eastern instruments. These
sympathetic strings are made of fine brass or steel
wire, stretched under the ordinary strings, out of
reach of either bow or finger, and therefore not
intended to be played upon directly, but to vibrate
sympathetically when a note played in the ordinary
way is in tune with them or with some of their
harmonics. These sympathetic vibrations obscure
the tone somewhat but they give it a fascinating
;
silvery ring and a curious ethereal quality which

is effective for some kinds of music. Vivaldi,
Handel, Bach, and others have used it in special
— —
works, and a few very few solo pieces exist for
it. On account of the various tunings to which
the viola d'amore is subject, its music was written
in a kind of tablatiire, derived from the ordinary
notation, which first appeared in the sonatas
published about 17 14 by Attilio Ariosti, one of
the early players on this instrument.
SECTION VII.
The Violins.
Concerning Violins, the conditions are peculiar.

Those who can afford it play upon instruments
which were made two centuries ago. For the
last hundred years violin makers have continued
to announce their discoveries of the great masters'
secrets. As their instruments can be bought for a
small sum, whilst a Guarnerius or Stradivarius is
worth a fortune, it would be idle to discuss whether
the moderns rival the ancients or not. But
these old violins must be altered before they are
considered fit for modern requirements. The
original bass bar is replaced by one longer and
stronger. The neck is lengthened, broadened,
and thrown more backward. The fingerboard is
prolonged to reach extreme high notes. The bridge
is raised, and its curve increased so that the bow
may press harder on one string without fear of

touching the next.
Whether these changes increase the amount of
pure tone available is doubtful, but the violin thus
treated has become more gritty, more assertive,
more capable of holding its own against its
aggressive neighbours.
The radical changes undergone by the bow in
the last quarter of the 18th century had even more
important results, musically, than the alterations
of the violin.
The old violin bow was only about 20 inches
long. Its stick was curved outwards, like a
shooting bow. It was thick at the base, and
finished in a delicate point, and had in consequence
great firmness, lightness, and very little momentum.
With it, detached notes could be performed
extremely rapidly and distinctly. Staccato effects
attained a crispness quite unapproachable with a
modern bow. A sharpness of accent and
clearness of phrasing were obtainable for which
the "staccato leggiero " of the Tourte bow affords
no compensation. The writer, after considerable
experience in playing with the old bow, has no
hesitation in pronouncing it preferable to the
modern bow for playing the old violin music.
The violins form a complete family of' six
different sizes, including the treble, our ordinary
violin the alto or haute-contre, our viola
; the ;
tenor, which has disappeared the bass, our

;
violoncello the double-bass, which was never

;
much used, being inferior to the violone and, ;
lastly, the violino piccolo, the smallest of all, tuned

a fourth higher than the treble. The violino
piccolo has been effectively used by Bach. Its
tone is quite distinct it should not be replaced by
;
an ordinary violin playing in the higher positions,

as the effect is not at all the same. It is given to
children to learn the violin with, and being tuned
like an ordinary violin, sounds wretched. As it is
perfectly delightful when tuned at the pitch proper
to its length, it is difficult to understand why
this should not be generally done. But accom-
paniments would have to be transposed, and
modern teachers like the beaten track.
How the tenor violin ever came to be discarded
is incomprehensible. Any orchestral score, be it
Haydn's or Wagner's, shows the crying need of it.
The instrumental tenor part, like the tenor part
in the vocal quartet, is indispensable in music.
There being no proper string instrument for it,
composers are obliged to distribute it as best they

can among the others. Sometimes it is given to
the alto-viola and played upon its lowest strings,

which are not effective for that purpose on ordinary
instruments or, worse still, the violoncello may
;
1 G
have to play it upon itshighest string, which is
too strident. Moreover, in the first case, whilst
the viola plays the tenor part, the alto part falls to
the second violin, which has not the right timbre
for it, and might be better occupied in playing a
second treble part. In the second case, whilst the
violoncello plays the tenor part, the real, true
string-bass is unavailable. It has to be given
to the bassoon or some other wind instrument,
for the double-bass alone is no good for it ; or,
again, the violoncellos or the violas are divided, or

the violins subdivided, &c, the which makeshifts
cannot replace a normal tenor part played on the
normal notes of a tenor violin.
The tenor violin, being tuned an octave below
the treble, would quite naturally double the
melody of the violins in octaves, and enrich the
orchestra in many various ways, which none of
the latest noise machines can do.
The tenor violin is not a rare instrument. Like
the violino piccolo, it is used nowadays for children,
and being tuned much too low for its length of
string, sounds still more wretched than the violino
piccolo tuned as a treble. There is no difficulty
whatever for a violoncellist to learn to play
the tenor.
SECTION VIII.
The Wood-Wind Instruments.
In the great order of wood-wind instruments

profound changes have happened. There were
complete families of each type of instrument in
four, five, or six different sizes, ranging from the
lowest to the highest registers. Many of these
have wholly —
disappeared for example, the
shawms, the cromornes, the cornets, and the
recorders in other cases, like the bassoons, oboes,
;
clarinets, and flutes, one or two members have

survived, though much altered by modern improve-
ments. Only two amongst these lost instruments
have yet been revived the recorder and the
:
1 8th century one-keyed flute. The writer having

no authority to speak of the others, can only say
that he regrets not to know them, but feels
confident, from contemporary evidence, that their
revival, if it comes, would be well repaid by
the results.
At the first sound the recorder ingratiates itself
into the hearer's affection. It is sweet, full,
profound, yet clear, with just a touch of reediness,
lest it should cloy. People often say :
" How
much more beautiful it is than the flute How
!
can it have been superseded ? " Even professional

flautists have said this. Did time and space allow,
it might be of interest to philosophise upon the
causes of our loss but we must restrict ourselves

;
to effects, and thus see in the recorder one of those

delicate shades among the wonderfully varied
colours from which the fortunate musician of past
times could select the decoration of his works.
The intonation of the recorder right through the
chromatic compass of two octaves and one note is
perfect, if you know how to manage the instrument;
but its fingering is complicated, and requires study.
To the ignorant person who just blows into it, and
lifts one finger after another to try the scale, it
seems horribly out of tune but that is not the
;
fault of the instrument.

This brings about the whole question of the
alleged imperfections of the old wood-wind
instruments. The 18th century one-keyed flute,
for example, has been tried more than once in
recent years, and in every case the same verdict
was returned that its tone, whilst it is inferior in
:
power to the modern flute, especially in the low

notes, is much more beautiful and characteristic,
but that its intonation is defective.
This last sentence is not true. The one-keyed
flute has been thoroughly and patiently studied
recently by a flautist who followed the instructions
contained in the " Principes de la Flute Tra-
versiere," by the famous Hotteterre le Romain,
Ordinaire de la Musique du Roy, Paris, 1707,
with the result that he can now play on the old
flute more perfectly in tune than he ever did
before upon a highly improved and most expensive
modern instrument. And the reason is not far to
seek. On the old flute, almost every note has to
be qualified by the breath, or some trick of
fingering, or the turning of the flute inward or
outward, to cover more or less of the embouchure,
by which means the pitch of the notes can be
affected to a great extent. This requires the
constant watchfulness of the ear, which thus
becomes more and more sensitive to faults of
intonation.
On the modern flute, a most ingenious and
complicated system of keys has been devised,
which is supposed, at the expense of beauty of
tone, to correct automatically all the imperfections.
Under ideal conditions it might come near doing
this. But in practice the instrument may be flat
from being cold, or sharp from being warm,
or be affected by the variations of wind-pressure
necessary for the lights and shades, and the player
whose ear is not only untrained but hardened by
the instruction he has received, goes on playing
out of tune, often to a most painful extent,
without feeling in the least distressed, for the
simple reason that trusting to his instrument, he
does not even listen to what is going on around
him, which is the absolute condition to obtain
such effects as can satisfy a discriminating
auditor.
There are in the old books innumerable instruc-
tions, rulesand warnings, intended to foster pure
intonation in all instruments. Quantz's " Versuch"
is full of such everything concurs to prove that
;
the old musicians were extremely sensitive on

that point.
The Cornets (Italian : Cornetto; German
Zinke) formed an extremely important family of
instruments, equally admirable to support and
brighten the voices in a chorus as for playing in
consorts, if we may judge from old descriptions.
The picturesque " Serpent," the bass of the family,
was still common in French churches about the
middle of the igth century and although, as a
;
rule, the players had no great skill, those who have

heard its tone combined with deep men's voices in
Plain-song melodies know that no other wind or
string instrument has efficiently replaced it.
The cornets are akin to the wood-wind
instruments, because they are generally made of
wood, and their notes are produced by the opening
of holes controlled by the fingers. They resemble
brass instruments by the principle of their tone-
production, which is similar to that of the Trumpet,
that is, the vibration of the lips in a cupped
mouthpiece.
In Bach's works, cornets are frequently intro-
duced, and even in Gluck's operas they are
to be found. They ought to be revived, but
unfortunately they are very rare, and difficult to
play. Once a genial professor, lecturing on old
musical instruments, blew into a cornet to
demonstrate its tone to the students it sounded
;
like the bleating of a calf; great laughter. The

superiority of modern instruments was proved. It
may, however, have occurred to some, that had he
tried to demonstrate the tone of a violin he might
have obtained an equal success for the mewing of
;
a cat is as risible as the bleating of a calf. But

this happened a generation ago, and the thick fog
of ignorance surrounding these things has begun to
disperse.
SECTION IX.
The Brass Instruments.

Amongst the brass instruments we need only
consider the Trumpets, the Trombones, and the
Horns. The plain French horn, without valves,
can still be met with, although it is becoming very-
rare.
The trombones are with us, still unspoiled,
although the majestic bass trombone has been
practically replaced by the coarse, thick tuba.
A trumpet we have also, but modified by
valves, and quite incapable of playing those
extremely high, brilliant, and florid parts which
are often found in the music of Purcell,
Handel, and Bach. Some thirty years ago a

so-called Bach trumpet was introduced which
reaches the high notes, if not the highest, and
when tempered by a large orchestra and chorus
does not sound ill but it is not in the least
;
fit to consort on equal terms with a flute and

a violin, nor to execute piano the florid passages
reaching F in altissimo of the famous Bach
Concerto.
The modern substitute has little in common
with the original instrument, and the picturesque
straightness of its tube, possible with a 4-ft. length,
would hardly be possible with the 8-ft. length
of the real trumpet. It is a short soprano cornet
(the ordinary kind), using mostly the second and
third octaves of its harmonics, the gaps of which
are filled by the valves, whilst the old trumpet,
being double the length, uses the third and fourth
octaves of its harmonics, rendered possible by a
slender tube and a small mouthpiece.
The writer's unsuccessful attempt at reviving
the old trumpet may be related here, as it may
help to the eventual accomplishment of this
desirable object.
Two trumpets were made by an excellent maker.
The writer produced some of the high notes on
them, but could not himself undertake the study of
this difficult instrument. A few other people tried
it: one succeeded in obtaining the highest notes
with great beauty and purity, but was not otherwise
musical enough to justify the hope that he could
eventually play a concerto of Bach. A skilled
player of the modern trumpet was 'persuaded to
take the instrument away and practise it. He
returned after a few weeks, having succeeded in
playing some difficult passages perfectly well;
but he declared that the small mouthpiece spoiled
his lips for the ordinary trumpet, and he could
not be prevailed upon to continue the experiment.
There is no doubt that the lip difficulty would have
disappeared in time, for the solo-players of Bach's
time were often ordinary trumpeters as well. It is
like the temporary trouble of a violinist playing
—
the viola it can be got over with a little patience.
SECTION X.
Combinations of Instruments.
As we have seen before, the old instruments

formed complete families of one kind music in
:
from three to six parts was framed for such, and

much appreciated.
The oft-recurring stage directions in Eliza-
bethan plays: Enter Comets, enter Recorders,
enter Hoboys, are meant for a full consort of each
kind of instrument. The old English expression,
" whole consort," was applied to this kind of
music. However, though single colours in music
were esteemed, combinations of these were
also in frequent use. They formed the "broken
consorts," or " broken music," often mentioned
in the literature of the 1 6th, and 17th centuries.
The third volume of the "Syntagma" of PrKtorius
explains at length how the families of instruments,
as well as the single members, can be associated
with one another, or with choruses or single voices.
We might dream of the effects of tone-colour
thus produced when under the spell of those
legions of adorable angels, playing and singing,
evoked by Gaudenzio Ferrari's genius under the
cupola of the Saronno Church in Italy but modern
;
music cannot realise them for us.

There is an English painting in the National
Portrait Gallery in London which could give us
no such heavenly visions, but touches this subject
in a modest and practical manner. It represents
the chief episodes of the life of Sir Henry Unton,
who was English ambassador in France in 1591.
One of these shows a consort of five viols two —
trebles, one tenor, and two basses. The players
look sedate, and are gentlemen playing serious
music. Sir Henry plays the tenor part, and seems
proud of doing so. The other represents a festive
scene. The family and guests are sitting at
the dinner table. A company of dancers dressed
for a " Morris " or some such jollity are dancing
to the merry tunes of a little band consisting
of a bass-viol, a tenor viol, a violin or rebec, a
lute, a cithren, and a flute, the latter being a
transverse flute, not a recorder, which shows
fine discrimination, for the recorder's tone might
be too grave for the occasion. This combination
of instruments is well contrived ;it must have
sounded gay and brilliant. Needless to say, the
ambassador does not take part in it; he is presiding
at the banquet. The musicians are professionals.
In 1599 Thomas Morley published "The first
booke of Consort Lessons, made by divers exquisite
authors, for six Instruments to play together,
the Treble Lute, the Pandora, the Cittern, the
Base-Violl, the Flute and Treble- Violl, newly set
forth at the coast and charges of a Gentle-man,
for his private pleasure, and for divers others his
frendes which delight in Musick."
—
This also a jolly combination.
is The " flute "
here is a tenor recorder that plays a middle part
instead of a tenor viol.
These "Consort Lessons" are intended for
"private pleasure." On great occasions we
find more elaborate schemes. Here is a list
of instruments
the which took part in a
Maske arranged by Cesare Negri, at Milan,
on June 26th, 1574, in honour of Don
Giovanni of Austria Cornetto, trombone,
:
bagpipe, fife, dolcain (soft bassoon), flute,

spinet, viola da gamba, violino, lute, cithren,
hoboy, dulcimer, tenor viol, triangle, pipe
and harp, kit,
tabor, theorbo, a quartet of
viole da braccio (violins). They probably did
not play much all together, but were
combined in a sort of kaleidoscopic scheme
in the manner described later by Andre
Maugars.
Another galaxy of instruments was assembled
at Munich under the direction of Orlandus
Lassus, on the occasion of the marriage of
Duke William V., in 1568. They formed
separate bands, which do not seem to have
joined together:
1. Five cornets and two trombones.
2. Six trombones and one contra-bass trombone.
3. Six viols.
4. Six viols, five trombones, one cornet, one
regal.
5. Six large viols, six flutes, six voices, and one
harpsichord.
6. One harpsichord, one trombone, one flute.
7. One lute, one bagpipe, one cornet, one
viola da gamba, one oboe.
8. Three choirs of instruments which were heard
separately and together
a. Four viols b. Four
; recorders
c. One dolcain, one bagpipe,
one fife, and one cornet.
g. A
piece for six recorders and six voices.
Andre Maugars, the French musician who came
to England to study the viol, as we have seen at
page 450, went to Rome in 1639. His skill on
the gamba excited great admiration there. He
states that there were no Italian players of any
importance on that instrument at the time but ;
he heard some good music in Rome, and sent an

admirable description of it to some friends in
Paris. Here is a translation of some parts of
his letter :
" I you the most celebrated and

will describe to
the most excellent concert which I have heard in
Rome, on the eve and the day of the Fete of
St. Dominic, in the Church of the Minerva. This
church is fairly long and spacious in it were two
;
large organs elevated on each side of the altar,

where two choirs of music had been placed.
Along the Nave there were eight more choirs, four
on one side and four on the other, elevated on
stages eight or nine feet high, separated from one
another by the same distance and facing one
another. In each choir there was a portable
organ, as is customary: this should not astonish
you, for there are over two hundred of them in
Rome, whilst in Paris it might be difficult to find
two of the same pitch. The Master composer
beat time in the first choir, which comprised the
most beautiful voices. With every one of the
others there was a man who did nothing else but
—"
keep his eyes upon that original time in order to
follow it, so that all the choirs sang in perfect time,
without dragging.
" The counterpoint of the music was florid,
filled with beautiful melodies and many agreeable
recitatives. Now a treble of the first choir
recited; then that of the third, fourth and tenth
answered. Sometimes they sang two, three, four
and five voices together, from several choirs, and
at other times all the parts of all the choirs
recited in turn, vying with one another. Now
two choirs would compete with one another,
then two others responded. Another time they
sang three, four, five choirs together, then one,
two, three, four and five voices alone and at
:
the Gloria Patri all the ten choirs would go

together.
" I must avow that I never before had such
ravishment ; but above the Hymn and in the
all in
Prose, where usually the Master endeavours to do
his best, and where I truly heard perfectly beautiful
melodies, most elaborate divisions, very excellent
inventions and a most agreeable variety of move-
ments. In the Antienne, they had very good
symphonies of one, two or three violins to the
organ, and some archlutes playing certain dance-
tunes [!] and answering one another."
Further, Maugars speaks of the " Oratorios
which were given at the Chapel of St. Marcel by a
congregation composed of the greatest noblemen in
Rome, and which attracted the elite of Society :
" This admirable and ravishing music is only

given on Fridays in Lent, from three till
six o'clock. The church is not quite so large as
the S te Chapelle in Paris (i.e., very small). At the
end of it there
is a spacious loft with an organ of
medium very soft and suitable for the voices.
size,
On both sides of the church there are again two
other small stages where stood the most excellent
instrumental players. The voices began with a
Psalm in Motet form; then all the instruments
played a very good symphony. Afterwards, the
voices sang some story from the Bible, in the form
of a sacred play, like that of Suzanna, of Judith
and Holofernes, of David and Goliath. Each
singer represented one of the characters of the
story and expressed perfectly the energy of
the words. Afterwards, a celebrated preacher
gave an address, which being finished, the music
recited the Lesson of the day, as the story of
the Good Samaritan, of the Canaanitish Woman,
of Lazarus, of Mary Magdalene, or the Passion of
Our Lord. The singers imitated perfectly well the
divers characters mentioned by the Evangelist. I
could not praise sufficiently this recitative music
it must be heard on the spot to be appreciated
according to its merits.

"As to the instrumental music, it was composed
of an organ, a large harpsichord, two or three
archlutes, an Archiviole-da-Lyra,' and two or
'
three violins. Now a violin played alone to the

organ, then another answered another time all
;
three played different parts together, then all the

instruments went together. Now an archlute
made a thousand divisions on ten or twelve notes,
each of five or six bars length, then the others did
the same in a different way. I remember that a
violin played in the true chromatic mode, and
although it seemed harsh to my ear at first, I
nevertheless got used to this novelty and took
extreme pleasure in it. But above all, the great
Frescobaldi exhibited thousands of inventions on
his harpsichord, the organ always playing the
ground. It is not without cause that the famous
organist of St. Peter has acquired such a reputation
in Europe, for although his published compositions
are witnesses to his genius, yet to judge of
his profound learning, you must hear him
improvise. ..."
Will this music ever be heard again ? Will
music, like the sister arts, ever retake possession of
its past, its heirlooms, its rightful inheritance ?
Yes, it must and by patiently working backwards,
;
mastering each step, the now dim past of music

will be brought to life, and will take its place side
by side with the other arts, to which it never was
inferior. But it is not through the deadly kind of
research in which the Germans have led the way
that any advance will be made. Is it worth while
to devote years of labour to compile an exhaustive
list of all the operas and other compositions that
were performed at some German Court during two
or three centuries, with the names and particulars
of all the composers, singers, musicians, dancers,
copyists, &c, engaged there, and the dates of
their entering and leaving the service, and their
salaries, &c, when not a single phrase of any of
that music can be correctly heard ? What avails
it to know when the grandfather's uncle of a certain
lutenist was baptized, or how many wives he had,

if neither the lutenist's music nor a lute is
procurable ?
We crave to hear the music itself in its original
form, and this is what the " musicologue " hardly
ever thinks about. And so little progress has
yet been made! Only the 18th century can be
considered as conquered a fair amount is known
;
about the 17th century, although the unknown

begins to make itself felt as we recede into it.
But how little we know practically about the
1 6th century, which tantalises us so cruelly !
How many years will it take before we shall

have revived and mastered all these unknown
instruments, and learned the unrecorded secrets of
their music ?
Researches and experiments are long and costly.
Music, it is true, has rich and powerful patrons
but would there be one among them far-seeing
enough and so disinterested as to support an under-
taking yielding no immediate tangible, brilliant
results ? He would render a service of paramount
importance to the art of music, for the future of
all arts must be grafted upon the past, and music
does not know its past.
English music, even more than any other, is in
need of it, for the French, the Germans, the
Italians, the Slavs, have at any rate preserved their
nationalism, without which no music, however
good, is of real value; whilst the English so
thoroughly destroyed their own art two
centuries ago that the memory of it hardly
remains.
It is not by pressing a few old English tunes
into a work that might be French or German, or
by disguising popular tunes with incongruous
harmonies, that the English school will be revived.
The works of its masters must live again, and
become the daily bread of the younger generation,
who in studying them, performing them, and
assimilating them, may recover the lost thread of
English art, which will never be found in the schools
of Leipzig or Berlin.
But these are dreams of the future. Amongst
our present needs the most pressing is the
publication of correct texts in a convenient form
and at reasonable prices, for without them we are
hampered at every turn.
The modern editions available exhibit an extra-
ordinary variety of faults. In some, bars have
been added in others, whole passages suppressed.
;
The fugues of Bach can be had printed in four

colours, to help dull pupils' understanding. The
performing editions of the new Bachgesellschaft
have levelled the music by thinning some places and
filling up others. Some editors have smothered
the texbunder ornaments most elaborately, though
incorrectly, written out —
slurs, dots, dashes, accents,
crescendos, fingerings, &c. Another one, reacting,
has come down to bare notes, sweeping everything
away, even those original marks of expression
which are so rare and so precious. In some
editions, figured basses reduced to bare notes
without figures compensate the "Bach So-and-so's"
thundering pianoforte versions. We
cannot trust
even those cumbersome, expensive monumental
publications which were not even intended for
performance, but to serve as hunting grounds for
editors. The French edition of Rameau's complete
works is full of grave inaccuracies in the ;
Bachgesellschaft text, signs for ornaments have

been removed or replaced by others.
Should not modern musicians treat the works of
their masters as they wish their own may be treated
in future centuries ? Yes, but the unreasoned con-
viction of their own superiority obscures their mind.
They are like those litterateurs who, during a dark

period in the 18th century, "re-wrote" Shakespeare
and " made it into plays." These times are past
for literature ; correct texts are now plentiful.
Difficult passages may be annotated, but that
is all ; the original remains untouched. It
should be the same with music. We can no
longer allow anyone to stand between us and
the composer.
1 H
INDEX I.
NAMES.
PAGE PAGE
Adam, Adolphe. Rhythm 70 Bach (C. Ph. E.) (cont.).
Adlung on the Clavichord 435 Arpeggio ... ... 271
Affilard, (1'). Vibrato ... 205 Tempo rubato ... 287
Agricola. Rhythm ... 62 Accent u. trillo ... 303
Appoggiature ... 118 Shake and turn ... 310
Ammerbach. Mordents 210 Prallender doppel-
Fingering 364 schlag ... ... 310
Ariosti (Attilio) ... 453 Sonata in F minor,
Appendix ... 18
Bach (C. Ph. E.). Rhythm 7059, Bach (J. S.).
•
Tempo of
Ornamentation ... 89 Sarabandes ...40, 52
Appoggiature 130. 132 Rhythm 62, 64, 69, 84
Bad example 146 Sarabande for the
He takes liberties, Violoncello ... 84
protest 149 Id. for the Clavier 86
Shakes 183 Appoggiature 102, 124
Learning the Shake Passing appoggi-
Sustaining tone on ature ... ... 152
Harpsichord and Doppeltcadenz ... 156
Clavichord 189 Shakes ... ... 167
Imagination to help Remarks on orna-
audition ... ... 190 mentation ...168
Abuse of Shakes ... 190 Bebung ... ...207
Bebung ... ... 207 Slide 246
Tragen der Tone . . . 207 Nachschlag ... 254
Mordent 220 Anschlag 258
Acciaccatura 220, 301 Arpeggio ... 270,273
Turn ... ... 233 Acciaccatura ... 300
Slide 248 Appoggiatura and
Naschlag ... ... 255 mordent ... ... 304
Anschlag ... ... 259 Trillo and mordent 309
.

Bach, (J. S.) (cont.). Brossard (Sebastien de).
Doppeltcadenz 316 Trillo, Cadence,
Doppeltcadenz Tremblement ... 164
u. mordant 316 Vibrato ... ... 205
Figured Basses ... 361 Trillo ... ... 205
System of touch Harpeggiato or
and tone produc- Harpege 268
tion 411 Bull (John). Shake ... 157
Fingering ... 412 Queen Elizabeth's
Harpsichord regis- Pavan ... ... 157
tration 428 Mordent ... ... 157
Recitatives accom- Fingering ... 382
panied on Harpsi- Ornaments ... 384
chord 432 Cycle of Keys ... 422
Organ Music ... 437
His use of Cornets 460 Caccini (Giulio). Preface 2
His use of Trumpets 461 Rhythm ... ... 71
His Fugues printed Trillo and Ribattuta 197
in four colours ... 470 Slide ... ... 239
Bachgesellschaft Tempo rubato ... 285
editions criticised 470 Chambonnieres. Appog-
" Bach so and so's " giatura ... ... 97
piano versions ... 470 Shake ... ... 161
Marche, Appendix 16 Pincement ... 212
Prelude and Fugue Turn ... ... 226
in C major, Coule ... ... 241
Appendix 13 Arpeggio ... ... 265
Balbastre (Claude) Clerambault. Rhythm... 76
Romance ... 2 Colman (Dr. Ch.). Ap- ,
Rhythm 82 poggiatura ... 96

Expressive rests ... 284 Shake ... 160, 240
Romance, Appendix 24 Shaked beat . .304
Bedos de Celles (Dom). Compleat Flute Master
Tempo ... 43, 52 (The). Mordent... 214
Rhythm 81 Close and open
Shakes ... ... 195 shakes ... ... 214
Expressive rests ... 284 Coperario (Giovanni), i.e.,
Ornaments ... 319 John Cooper 445, 450
Romance Mr.
de Corelli, Arcangelo.
Balbastre, Appendix 24 Tempo of Sara-
Beethoven. Shakes ... 195 bandes ... ... 40
Moonlight Sonata 432 Rhythm 66
Bevin (Edward). Fingering Accent ... ... 255
and ornaments ... 387 Ornamentation ... 341
Bolles (Sir Robert). His Extracts from Violin
Pedals ... ... 425 Sonata, No. VI.
Bovicelli. Slide ... ... 239 Appendix ... 31
INDEX I.— NAMES 475
PAGE
Couperin, Francois. Ex- Dandrieu (cont.)-
pression ... ... 17 Ornaments 393
Rhythm 53, 62, 7s, 76 Harpsichord regis-
Appoggiatura ... 10 tration 428
Illogical Notation... 102 Suite No. IV.
Shakes, tremble- Appendix 4
ments ... 165, 195 Danglebert. Rhythm ... 62
PincS ... "... 215 Appoggiatura ]OI
Port de Yoix ... 215 Shake ... 162, 167
Turn ... ... 230 Mordent 214
Slide ... ... 244 Turn 226
Accent ... ... 254 Slide 242
Arpeggio ... ... 268 Arpeggio 267
Ddtache' ... ... 276 Cheute 267
Suspension ... 277 Detache 276
Expressive rests ... 277 Acciaccatura
•
292
Tempo rubato ... 277 Tremblementappuy6 303
Harpsichord pieces Tremblementetpince' 3°9
editedby Bach and Cadence ... 315
Chrysander ... 277 Double Cadence ... 315
Fingering 395 Figured basses 349
Position at keyboard 395 Dannreuther (Edward).
Grimaces in playing 396 His translation of
Tr emblement Frescobaldi's Pre-
Appuye" 303 face
Appoggiatura and De Caix d'Hervelois.
Mordent 305 Rhythm 78
Tremblementetpince' 309
Ornaments 91
Misprints cause Slide 343
misunderstanding A disciple of Ste.
of fingering ... 405 Colombes 45i
Harpsichord regis-
Dean (Mr.). On Tempo 34
tration ... ... 429
Nos. Deering (Richard) 445
Preludes, I.,
II. and IV., Ap- Demachy. Port de Voix 98

pendix ... ... 10 Shake 161
Cristofori. Reputed in- Vibrato 204

ventor of piano- Martellement
forte 4ji Dieupart. Appoggiature
Shakes 175
Dandrieu. Arpeggio . . 270 Mordent 218
Port de voix et Turn
pinc£ 305 Date of Harpsichord
Cadence fermê ... 3°9 pieces 231
Date of Harpsichord Arpeggio, Battery. .
pieces 392 Double Cadence,

Fingering... 393 Shake-turn
.

PAGE PAGE
Diruta. Shake ... 156 Gliick. Use of Cornets 460
Tremoli and Tremo- Grove (George). The
letti 197 article in his
Mordent ... 210 Dictionary con-
Turn 22 c cerning Couperin's
Dolmetsch (Mrs. Arnold). fingering 405
On Tempo of
Dances ... 44 Handel. Rhythm 62, 68, 84
Figured basses ... 356
Engramelle (Le Pere), Organ Music ...
437
Tempo ... 43 Hayward (John). Inven-
Rhythm S3 tion of the Pedal 425
Silences d'Articu- His spinets ... 427
lation Heinichen. Slides ... 244
La marche du Roy, Henry VIII. (The King).
Menuet de Zelindor, His Virginals ... 423
Appendix 2: Ho 1 1 e t e r re - le-Romain.
Rhythm ... ... 73
Ferabosco 445, 45° Shake ... ... 164
Ferrari (Gaudenzio). His Vibrato ... ... 206
musician angels.. 463 On
the Flute ... 458
Forquerays (The). Orna- Hottman. His playing of
ments ... ... 91 simple Viol-pieces 15
Slide ... ... 243 Disciple of Ste.
Figured basses ... 351 Colombes ... 450
Disciples of Ste. Hummel. On Shakes ... 195
Colombes ... 450 Corrupt ornaments 224
Frescobaldi. Expression 4
Rhythm ... ... 71 James I. (The King) ... 450
Shakes ... 159, 195 Jenkins (John). Appog-
Arpeggio ... ... 260 giature ... ... 97
Virginals music ... 369 Consorts of Viols... 445
His improvisations 468
Kuhnau. Slides ... 244
Gabrieli, Shake
Andrea, 1 56
Galliard, Ernest, Appog- L a w e s (William).
giatura ... ... 118 Appoggiature ... 97
Ganassi, Shake .. ... 155 Consorts ... ... 445
Turn ... ... 225 Le Begue. Shake ... 161
Geminiani, Appoggiatura 122 Mordent ... ... 212
Shakes ... ... 176 Arpeggio ... ... 265
Vibrato ... ... 207 Leclair, J. M. Ornaments 91
Acciaccatura ... 288 Lemaire (Theophile). His
Figured basses ... 354 translation of
Gibbons (Orlando). Tosi's " Opinione " 118
Fingering ... 389 Lewes (William). Maker
Prelude, Appendix 1 of Virginals ... 423
PAGE
Locke (Matthew). Fore- Masson (Paul Marie).
fall and shake ... 312 Hishelp in translat-
Loulie. Accent... ... 254 ing Frescobaldi's
Lupo. Consorts ... 445 Preface ...
Matheson. Mordent 218
Mace (Thomas). Expression 9 on the clavichord... 435
Tempo 48 Maugars (Andre), on
Appoggiatura 93 Music in Rome in
Shake 161 1632 465
'-
Shakes hard and soft 202 Mersenne. On Tempo... 28
Sting 203 Merulo (Claudio) 369, 372, 375
Beat 214 Mondonville. Ornaments 91
Turn 226 Shakes 177
Wholefall 240 Mordent ... 218
Spinger 252 Monteverde. Trillo 198
Broken chords 262 Consorts of viols ... 445
Raking play 262 Morley (Thomas). On
Crackled chords . .
275 Tempo ... 46
Tut 275 His Consort Les-
Single relish 306 sons 463
Pouble relish 308 Mozart (Leopold). Pass-
Figured basses 344 ing appoggiature 151
.
•
Pedal, description 424 Shakes 195
Consorts of Viols... 444 Muff at (George). Turn... 228
Marais, Marin. Rhythm 75 Slide 242
Ornaments 9i Accent 254
Appoggiature 99 Muffat (Theophilo). His
Vibrato 204 Ornaments 120
Mordent 213 Appoggiature 121
Slide 243 Snakes 173
Arpeggio 268 Mordent 218
A disciple of Ste. Turn 231
Colombes 45' Arpeggio ... 270
Marpurg. Appoggiatura 130 Suspension 279
Passing appoggiatura '5' Tremblement
Shakes 182 appuye ... 303
Bebung 207 Appoggiatura and
Mordent 218 Mordent ...' 3°4
Turn 232 Slideand Shake ... 316
Groppo 2 t2 Munday (Jhon). Fingering 381
Slides 245 Murschhauser, Slide 244
Accent 255
Anschlag 258 Ortiz'(Diego). Shake 155
Pinc6 etouffe, acciac- Turn 22 c
catura 302
Tremblement appuye 3°3 Paderewski. His dislike
Tremblement could 317 for soft hammers 430
.. . 5

PAGE
Pepys (Samuel). His Quantz (cont-)
spinet ... ... 427 Rhythm ... 53, 78
Picchi (Giovanni). His Appoggiature ... 124
Dances for Vir- " Kleine manieren " 129
ginals ... ... 369 Mordent ... ... 219
Playford(John). Transla- Battement 219
tion of Caccini ... 2 Pince ... ... 219
Beat 96 Turn, Double ... 234
Backfall 96 Slides ... ... 247
Shake ... ... 160 Anschlag ... ... 257
Backfall shaked ... 160 Silences d'Articula-
Elevation ... ... 160 tion ... ... 281
Cadent ... ... 160 Notes must not be
Trillo 200 glued together ... 281
Beat 211 Divisions in Italian
Slide 238 style 341
Springer ... ... 251 Touch and Tone
Shaked beat . . 304 on Keyed instru-
Double Relish . . 307 ments, J. S. Bach's
Praetorius. Appoggiatura 95 system ... ... 410
Passing appoggia- Perfect intonation 459
tura ... ... 150
Shake, Groppo ... 159 Rameau, Rhythm ... 62
Trillo 198 Ornaments ... 91
Mordent ... ... 211 Appoggiatura ... 122
Slide 239 Snakes .-
174
Accent ... ... 251 Pince ... ... 217
Figured bass ... 342, Turn ... ... 231
Combinations Slide ... ... 245
of instruments and •
Arpeggio ... ... 270
Voices ... ... 462 Suspension ... 279
Purcell (Henry). On Cadence appuyee . .
303
Tempo ... ... 32 Pince et Port de
Appoggiature ... 97 Voix ... ... 305
Shake ... ... 163 Fingering ... ... 408
Turn ... ... 228 System of playing
Slur, Slide ... 242 figured basses ... 410
Broken Chords, Complete edition of
Arpeggio ... 265 his works ... 470
Battery ... 266, 269 Rellstab. Rhythm ... 57
Plain note and shake 302 Richelieu (Cardinal) ... 450
Beat 3°4 Rousseau, Jean. Orna-
Turned shake 309 ments on the Viol 1
Fingering... 392 Shake ... ... 162
Use of Trumpet 460 Vibrato ... ... 205
Quantz. Expression 22 Martellement ... 213
Tempo 35, 5° Aspiration... ... 253
PAGE
Rousseau (Jean-Jacques). Tartini. Accent 255
Port de Voix, Port Tosi. Appoggiature Il8
de Voix jette; 306 Shakes 169
Half-shakes 195
Ste.Colombes ... 450 Trillo 2o6
Savoye (Rend). Owner Trillo-Mordente ... 309
of 1610 pianoforte 43i Tourte. His violin bows 455
Scarlatti, D
om in co i Turk. Rhythm ... 61
Acciaccatura 299 Passing appoggia-
Scipione del Palla 3 ture 151
Senailld. Ornaments . . 91 Shakes '95
Simpson, Christopher. Bebung 208
On Tempo Turn 237
Appoggiatura 96 Tempo Rubato 285
Shake 160
Close-Shake Unton (Sir Henry), As
Organ - Shake o r
a musician 463
Tremolo with the
bow 202
211
Wagner (Richard). His
•
Beat
Preislied in old
Slide 240
notation ... 109
Springer ... 252
Walther. Ornaments
Snaked Beat 3°4
before the notes... 243
Double-Rellish ... 307
Ward, John. Consorts of
Shaked Elevation... 3' 2
Viols 445
Shaked Cadent ... 312
White, (Mr.). Consorts of
Divisions ... 323
Viols 445
•
Breaking the
Ground ... 323
Consorts of Viols... 445 Zacconi. Shake, Mordent 156
On Viol-bowing ... 447 Tremolo ... 196
INDEX II.
MATTER.
PAGE PAGE
Accent (see Appoggiatura) Appoggiatura and mor-
167, 251 dent ... ... 304
Acciaccatura ... 209, 220, Appoggiatura and shake 302
288, 322 Archiviole da Lyra ... 467
Acciachatura (see Acciaccatura). Archlute ... ... ... 439
Accidentals in Divisions 337 in Church... ... 466
Accompaniments upon the Arcileuto (see Archlute).
Viol 15 Arioso, Tempo ... ... 41
Accords de Tierces coulees 321 Arpeg6 (see Arpeggio).
Adagio Assai, Tempo 39, 41 Arpeggio... ... ... 260
Adagio Cantabile, Tempo Arpicordo ... ... 422
39, 4o, 42 Articulation ... ... 283
Airs in Italian style, Tempo 42 Aspiration 204, 251, 256,
Airy Musicks 4 275, 278
Alia Breve, Tempo 39 Aspired shake ... ... 166
Rhythm ... 58 Ayre, Tempo ... ... 48
Allegretto, Tempo •39 42
Allegro Assai,Tempo 39 42 Bagpipes do not articulate 282
Allegro, Tempo ... 39 Bagpipe style of Bach
Rhythm ... 57, 58, 80 playing ... ... 284
Itsspeed not to be Bagpipes in Consort ... 464
exaggerated ... 41 Balancement 196, 205, 207
Allemande, Tempo 47, 48, 52 (see Vibrato).
Rhythm 76 Bandora ... ... ... 443
Allmaine (see Allemande). Bass Viol 449
Alman (see Allemande). as a solo instrument 450
Alto- Viol 45' in consort... ... 463
Alto- Violin 455 Basse Chiffree (see Figured
Anschlag... 256 Bass).
Appoggiatura 93 Basso Continuo (see
Fingering 397 Figured Bass).
INDEX II.— MATTER 481
PAGE PAGE
Batement, vibrato 205 Chromatic Mode on the
Mordent ... 209 Violin in 1639 ... 467
Battery, Arpeggio 260 Church Music in Rome
Bearing ... 238 in 1639 465
Beat (see Appoggiatura on Church Music, Tempo ... 43
the flute). 215 Chute (see Appoggiatura).
Bebung ... 196 Chutes de Pinc6s ... 320
Bourr6e, Tempo... 5° Citharen (see Cithren).
Bows, old and modern Cithren ... ... ... 443
compared 454 in Consorts ... 463
Bransle, Tempo ... 47 Cittern (see Cithren).
Brass Instruments (obso Circolo-mezzo ... ... 224
lete) 460 Clavecin ... ... ... 423
Breaking a note... 324 Clavessin ... ... 423
Breaking the ground 328 Clavicembalo ... ... 423
Broken chords ... 260 Clavichord ... ... 433
Broken consorts... 462 Gebunden and
Broken music 462 bundfrei ... ... 434
Buff Plectra on Virginals 420 Itsuse by J. S. Bach 435
Clavicymbel ... ... 423
Cadence ... 154, 224, 230 Clavicytherium ... ... 422
de nceuds et trem- Close-shake 196, 202, 204, 214
blements... ... 307 Consorts, whole and broken 462
distinguished from Coranto (see Courante).
measure, Couperin 20 Cornets 459, 464
In Dom Bedos : in Bach's works ... 460
Cadence d£tach6e in Consorts ... 464
simple, d6tach6e Lecture on Cornets 460
double, Hie simple, Cornetto 459
liee double, ap- Coule" 238
puy6e et ditachie, Coups sees ... ... 321
appuyê et hie, Courante, Tempo 45, 48, 50, 52
ouverteetd6tach6e, Rhythm 56
ouverte et \iie ... 319 Cracked Chords... ... 275
in Frescobaldi ... 5 Crispata Cadentia . .
307
sans tremblements 224 Cromornes ... ... 457
Cadence jettê, finale ... 320 Cuts in long pieces ... 7
CadenzediGroppoeTrillo 307
Canarie, Tempo... ... 50 Dampers in pianos ... 431
Cembalo... ... ... 423 Dances, Tempo... ... 44
Chacone, Tempo ... 50 alterations of speed
Rhythm 56 and character ... 45
Cheute (see Appoggiatura). Dance- Tunes versus serious
Chest Voice in runs, Tempo 42 music ... ... 369
Children, Teaching of ... 19 in church ... ... 466
First Lessons ... 18 Demi-Tremblement ... 181
Chittarone ... ... 443 Descending shake ... 170
. .

TAGE
Dessus de Viole... 451 Fingering (cont-)-
Detache 275 English ... ... 380
Divisions 323 English opposed to
Dolcain ... 464 Italian ... ... 380
Doppelschlag ... 224, 234 Couperin ... ... 396
Doppelt-Cadenz... ... 156 Old German . .
364
in Bach ... 167, 230 Old Italian ... 369
Doppeltriller ... ... 309 Rameau ... ... 408
Doppelvorschlag ... 256 Fingering, Harmonic sys-
Dots, Lengthening of ... 53 tem of, Old English 381
Double ... 224, 230, 320 J. S. Bach... ... 414
Double Backfall 238 Couperin ... ... 400
Double Bass, need of frets 452 Fingers, good and bad ... 375
Number
of strings 452 Change of, on same
Double Bass Viol ...451 note ... ... 381
Double Cadence 224, 231, 316 Flatt6 ... 238, 243, 246
Double Relish ... 307, 388 Flattement, Marais ... 204
Drudging in Practising... 13 Hotteterre... ... 206
Dulcimer, prototype of Fliigel 423
pianoforte ... 431 Flute (one-keyed). Its
in consort ... ... 464 tone and intona-
tion ... ... 457
Ear in old musicians 458 in consorts ... 463
Editor, Misdeeds of 470 Foref all (see Appoggiatura).
Elevation 238 French movements,
English Guittar ... 444 Couperin... ... 20
English Music, its over- French music and Italian
throw 444 music. How their
•
Its future ... 469 execution differs... 340
English Musicians imitate Furies, Fury, Tempo ... 50
Italians ... 45i Rhythm ... ... 57
Entree, Tempo ... 5°
Rhythm 57 Gavotte, Tempo ... 50
Epinette ... 422 General-Bass ... ... 342
Espinette 422 GeschnellterDoppelschlag 237
Exclamations 3 Gigue, Tempo ... ... 50
Expression in music ...: 3,83 Gravicembalo ... ... 423
Expressive Rests 275 Groppo 154, 209, 232,
3°6, 376
Figured Arpeggio 260, 270 Ground-note ... ... 329
Figured Basses ... 342
When to play beyond Half-Fall (see Appoggiatura).
the rules ...
345 Half-Shakes 154, 181, 192
Fingering ... 19, 364 Harmony, A knowledge of,
C. Ph. E. Bach
r- . .
418 necessary to per-
•
J. S. Bach 412 form Italian music 340

Dandrieu ...
393 Origin of ... ... 483
PAGE PAGE
Harp in Consorts ... 464 Light and shade in Music 25
Harpege, Harpegement, Loud and soft playing,
Harpeggiato, Har- Th. Mace
peggio ... 260, 322 Loure, Tempo 50
Harpsichord ... ... 422 Rhythm 56
Additional rows of Love- Viol 453
Jacks ... ... 422 Lute 437
for accompaniments 433 Compass 438
for Concerted music 432 Frets 438
in Church ... ... 467 Stringing 438
in Consort ... 464 Tunings 438
in Henry VIII.'s Lutes, large, for ;
time ... ... 423 paniments 438

_ Prices of old ... 428 and Voice . .
442
Registration ... 428 as a solo instrument 442
•
Second Keyboard .. 423 in Consorts 463
with Orchestra . .
433 Tablature ..
439
Harpsicon ... ... 423
Haute-Contre Viol ... 451 Machine to play at great
Head Voice in runs ... 42 r speed 4i
Hoboy in Consorts . .
464 Madrigals require free
Holding-Note ... ... 329 Tempo 6
Horn 468 Majestic style 58
Hornepipe, Tempo ... 48 Marche, Tempo 51
Rhythm 83
Instrument (German Vir- Martellement 209
ginal) ... ... 422 Maske, Instruments in ... 464
Instruments in combina- Measure of no measure in
tion ... ... 462 Dancing ... 46
Italian movements ... 20 Melodious Pieces, The
Italian Music. How it playing of IS
differs from French Menuet, Tempo ... 45 5i
Music in execution 340 Rhythm 83
Mesto, Tempo ... ... 41
Jacks ... ... ... 420 Minuet, Minuetto (see Menuet).
Jigg, Tempo 48 Modern Editions of Old
Rhythm 80 Music. Their
faults ; how they
Kit, in Consort ... 464 should be done ... 470
Modern Shake ... ... 196
La Volta (see Volte). Mordant (see Mordent).
Langueur, J. Rousseau ... 205 Mordent ... 196, 206, 209
Leather Plectra, for Vir- Faults of ... 221
ginals ... ... 420 Fingering of 223, 396
Lento, Tempo ... ... 41 in the Bass ... 222
Liaisons, de deux, de trois Speed of ... ... 220
et de quatre notes 321 Use of ... ... 219
V AC. B
Quilling of Harpsichords Shakes (cont.)-
2i, 420 Preparation and
Quills for Virginals ... 420 termination ... 180
Quinterna ... ... 443 How to acquire
Shakes ... ... 184
Rebec in Consort ... 463 Snapping the end... 185
Recitative Music in Rome Shakes on dotted
1639
in 467 notes ... ... 186
Recorders ... ... 457 —— Fingering ... 188, 400
in Consorts ... 463 Faults and abuse of
Redoubled Shake ... 171 Shakes ... 89 1
Rhythm, Conventional Shake-Turned, Purcell ... 229

alterations of ... 53 Shake-Turn, Dieupart 231, 316
Imperfect notation Shake and Mordent 306
of 65 Shake and Turn 306
Ribattuta ... ... 196 Shaked Beat, Dieupart... 3°9
Ricochets on the Violin 17 Shaked Cadent ... 312
Rigaudon, Tempo ... 50 Shaked Elevation 312
Rising Shake ... ... 170 Shawms ,
457
Rondeau, Tempo ... 50 Short Octaves in Keyboards 421
Rubato (Tempo) ... 284 Siciliana, Tempo ... 41
Silences d' Articulation ... 275,
Saltarello, Tempo ... 47 280, 317
Sarabande, Rhythm ... 56 Single Relish ... 226
Tempo 45, 48, 50, 52 Single-Soul'd Ayr • 444
Schleifer (see Slide) Slides ... 238
Schnellen ... ... 195 Dotted 247: 381
Secondes Coulees ... 321 Slide and Shake. 312
Sentiments of French Slow Shake 171
pieces ... ... 21 Slur (see Slide).
Seraband (see Sarabande) Slurs bar ornaments
Serpent ... ... ... 459 Snapping the last note of
Shakes, Frescobaldi ... 7 a shake ... '85
Starting on main the upper note of a
note 159 turn 234
Chambonnieres ... 161 Soft Hammers in Pianos 43°
Purcell ... ... 163 Son Coupe 275
D'Anglebert ... 163 Speeds of Movements and
Couperin ... ... 165 Dances, general
J. S. Bach ... 167 table 42
Rameau ... ... 174 Spinet. invention ...
Its 427
Dieupart ... ... 175 Its use in consorts 464
Geminiani ... 176 Spinetta ... 422
Quantz 177 Spinger ... 251
Mondonville ... 177 Springer ... 251
Speed of Shakes ... 178 Staccato playing 275
Shake of a third 178, 399 Standing-note ... 329
.

TAGE PAGE
Sting 196 Tone-Colour, in olden time 462
Stolen Time, Tempo Rubato 284 Tonotechnical notation,
Sudden- Shake ... ... 154 Appendix (Intro-
Its difficulty on the ductory notes) ... 2
pianoforte ... 195 Tour de Gosier. A
Its fingering ... 194 grace ... 224,229
Its qualities ... 193 Treble Lute in Consort... 463
Its use ... ... 194 - Viol ... 16, 449, 463
Suspension ... 275, 278 Violin 465

Sustaining the tone on Tremblement ... 154
Harpsichord and r Aspire ... . 166
Clavichord 189, 221 Double ... 309
Sweetning. A grace ... 215 Mineur . . . 206
Sympathetic Strings in sans Appuyer ... 196
Viols 453 Tremoletto 154, 196
Symphonia (a Virginal) 422 Tremolo 196 208, 376
Tablature 439 Tremor pressus. A grace 202
•
Its advantages ... 442 TremulaCoalitio. Agrace 312
Translation ... 44° Elevatio. A grace 312
Table of Speeds 42 Triangle in maske ... 464
Tactee 3 l8 Trille, Triller ... ... 154
Tambourin, Tempo ... 51 Trillo ... ... ... 154
Tattle-de-moy, Tempo ... 48 •
In Bach ... ... 167
Tatto 288,292 Italian ... 196, 205
Tempo must be free in Trombone ... ... 460
Madrigals ... 6 Contrabass ... 464
Tradition in Tempo 27 In Consort ... 464
Movements and
of Trumpet (old) ... ... 459
Dances ... ... 42 Bach 461
Rubato ... 11, 277, 284 Its revival... ... 461
Tenor Recorder ... ... 464 Tuba ... ... ... 460
Viol 449, 451, 463 Tuning the Voice a third
Violin. Its revival 455 under the note ... 3
Teretesimi. Agrafe ... 307 Turn 163, 224
Theorbo, in maske
... 464 Turned Shake ... ... 306
Theorboe-Stop in Harpsi- Tut. A Lute grace ... 275
chord ... ... 426
Theorboe-man, Descrip- Uneven playing of notes 24
tion of ... ... 439
Advice to ... ... 344 Verriicktes Zeitmasz
Thorough-Bass ... ... 342 (Tempo Rubato) 286
Thump, on the Viol ... 450 Vibrato 196
Time, to be free... 10, 21 Viola d'Amore 4S 2
Time-Keeping ... ... 29 Viola da Gamba . .
449
Tiret. A Grace on the in England ... 450
Lute ... ... 211 in France ... ... 45°
Toccatas, Frescobaldi ... 5
Its use in Consorts 464
PAGE
Viola da Braccio . .
464 Virginals, for Dance-
Violin Players, Advice to, Tunes and serious
for Rhythm ...
57 music ... ... 371
Violino Piccolo ... ... 455 General description 419
Violins, Old and New ... 453 Italian Virginals ... 421
Modern Fittings ... 454 Prices of Virginals 428
Old and Modern Their Qualities ... 375
Bows compared... 454 Their Touch ... 373
The Violin Family 455 Vivace, Tempo ... 40, 42
Violins in Consort 464 Vocal Music, Tempo ... 43
Violoncellist, Advice to, Volte. A Dance, Tempo 47
for Rhythm ...
57 Vorschlag (see Appog-
Violoncello 455 giatura).
Violone ... ... ... 451
Viols 444 Whole Consorts , 462
Description ... 445 Whole-Fall. An ornament 238
Bowing ... ... 446 Wind Instruments,
compared with modern, their
Violins 446 ... ... shortcomings ... 458
in Consorts 449, 463 Wood- Wind Instruments 456
Tunings ... ... 449 The alleged imper-
Manner of holding 463 fections of old
Virginal-Music in Italy, instruments ... 457
its backward state Their families ... 456
in 1 6th century
when compared Zincke ... ... ... 459
with England . . 369 Zusammenschlag 209, 220, 288
1 1
.
INDEX III.
SIGNS.
PAGE
^ Close shake or vibrato, Old English 202
Shortened note ... 318
Notes egales •75-77
The Tut. Lute Grace . . 276
Single Relish 226
Double Relish, Old English 3°7

P
p Accent, Loulie 254
Detached note, Couperin 276

Tactee 3i8
p Holding a note plain, Geminiani 176
Tonotechnie 3i8
.* p Beat, Old English 96

Springer, Old English ... 252
Foref all, Old English ... 97
Accent, Marpurg... 256
,-j Springer, Spinger, Old English. 251
^jj-* Slide, Muffat 245

INDEX III.— SIGNS 489
PACE
of Backfall, Old English
97
Appoggiatura, Marpurg 130
J
% Arpeggio, Marais 269
* i
J Arpeggio,
upwards, Dieupart ... 269
'
Rameau 270
5 Arpeggio, downwards, Dieupart 269

'
Rameau 270
Shake, Old English 163

J
Mordent, Marpurg 218
= Close shake 215
II Accent, G. Muffat 254
-EI Forefall and Shake, M. Locke ... 312
*"?" Plain note and shake, Purcell ... 163, 302
Silences d' Articulation. Appendix. Introduc-

etc.
tory Notes
'&' Slide, Th. Muffat 245
~~~
Slide, G. Muffat ... 242
^'p, Shaked Beat, Old English 212, 303

i
+
Port de Voix, Chambonnieres ... 97
I
Shake ... 144

Bach ... 167
Marpurg ... 182
Open Shake, Beat or Sweetening, Old English 215
Slide 243
All kinds of Ornaments 91, 243, 253
•

PAGE
x f Port de
Voix Simple, Marpurg ... ... 130
Batement, Marais, de Caix d'Hervelois, etc. ... 213

Pined, Forqueray ... ... ... ... 213
Whole-fall, Old English 241
Slide, Heinichen... ... ... ... ... 244
\ Plainte or Vibrato, Marais ... ... ... 204
~~ pined or Flattement, Marais ... ... ... 204
* Arpeggio, upwards, ChambonniereS ... ... 265
Couperin ... ... ... ... ... 268
5 Arpeggio, downwards, Chambonnieres ... 265
Couperin ... ... ... ... ... 268
'0 Elevation, Cadent, Old English ... ... 160

1
Shaked Elevation, Old English ... ... 312

** -> Bebung ... ... ... ... ... ... 207
'f Backfall shaked, Old English 160
Appoggiatura ... ... ... ... ... 122
f Double Backfall, Old English 240
f' Shake ... ... ... ... ... ... 164

Mordent ... ... ... ... ... 214,218
<J Appoggiatura, D'Anglebert ... ... ... 101
Bach ... ... ... ... 103, 218
C^ *2j4 Appoggiature, Bach ... ... ... ... 103

'
1,
\$ t) Coule, D'Anglebert 242
(4 Battery, Purcell , 266
Harpdgement, Dieupart... ... ... ... 269
A V Accents, Marpurg ... ... ... ... 256

Tonotechnical signs. Appendix. Introductory
Notes.
INDEX III.— SIGNS
WA Tonotechnical signs. Appendix.

Notes
**• Tremblement simple, D'Anglebert
Trillo, Bach
Shake, Marpurg
-»»v Tremblement, Chambonnieres ...
Couperin ...
Shake, Bach
Marpurg
C. Ph. E. Bach
Beat, Purcell
Long shake
/** Th. Muffat
/> Th. Muffat
-*0 Cadence fermê, Dandrieu
**v. Double Cadence, Rameau

**" Slide, Walther
Kuhnau
J. S. Bach
*V, Slide, Walther
Ow Cadence, D'Anglebert ...
Shake, Marpurg ...
Port de Voix et Pinc6, Dandrieu
,-v**v Doppelt Cadence, Bach ...
Cv»v Cadence, D'Anglebert
Doppelt Cadence, Bach...
Uw Tremblement appuy6, D'Anglebert

Marpurg ...
J. S. Bach
Th. Muffat
ffi Pined, Couperin

INDEX III.— SIGNS 493
l'AGE
Tremblement et Pince, D'Anglebert ... l62
Tremblement et Pince, Shaked beat, Dieupart... 309
Shake turn'd, Purcell 163, 222,
Shake, Marpurg ...
Tremblement Double, Marpurg

(X) Prallender Doppelschlag, C. Ph. E. Bach
CO Couperin ...
Bach
Marpurg ...
»,_,» Redoubled Shake, Geminiani ...

I** CO Tremblement appuye, Marpurg

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XVIIth AND XVIIIth CENTURIES

:WENTY-TW0 ILLUSTRATIVE PIECES

Price Threk Shillings and Sixpence. -

XVIIth AND XVIIIth CENTURIES

REVEALED BY CONTEMPORARY EVIDENCE.

London: NOVELLO AND COMPANY, Limited.

When our musical notation began, in the early part

it is not, the style of the music is familiar

knowledge and if no single document gives it, we

must attempt to deduce it from a combination of

Firstly, the Tempo, which frequently is not

Secondly, the real Rhythm, which very often

Thirdly, the Ornaments and Graces necessary

Section I. ... ... ... ... ... ... 53

subject, but does nevertheless contain most valuable

" There is a manner of conceiving Music entirely

2 17TH AND i8th CENTURY MUSIC

" They have not said a word about the ornaments,

all these observations are, however, essential, and

The imperfections of musical notation could not

" Courteous Reader,

it, I thought it would be useful to add some part

of this kind on my own weak judgment, I communi-

" I have endeavoured in those my late

and how much the more curiosities are in it, by

that in the Tuning of the first Note, Tune it a Third

Tune, always increasing it in Lowdness, saying that

move the Affections ; and Exclamation properly is

" Exclamations may

that in Airy Musicks or Corants to dance instead of

" Whereupon we see how necessary a certain

manner of singing, which is used without tying a

singing with a graceful neglect, whereof I have

Knowing by experience how well appreciated is

bow before the merits of others, and that I respect

4 On the last note of the shakes, or passages

by skips or degrees, you must pause, even if this

the end of the passage or cadence, you should

has semiquavers should make them somewhat

on for the others, one without dot, the other dotted.

resolutely play the passage, which will better show

Those without divisions may be played a little

the necessity of good phrasing and thoughtful

what is before his eyes, to realise that the author

device which is frequently resorted to in modern

slowly, others fast. Their tempo is left to the

the works on this subject written within the last

Lock'd-up-Secrets Plainly laid Open . .

io 17TH AND i8th CENTURY MUSIC

" . . you must Know, That, although in our

for Humour, and good Adornment-sake, in certain

sometimes Slower, as we perceive the Nature of the

" The next is to play some part of the Lesson

make a kind of Cessation, or standing still, sometimes

The conclusion of all this is

had to be punctuated divided from one another

so as to make the sense clear, although the music

" But thus much I do affirm, and shall be

Exercise, can order His Discourse, or Form, various

12 17TH AND i8th CENTURY MUSIC